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fain

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fain

Main Entry:: ¹fain
Pronunciation:: \ˈfān\
Function:: adjective
Etymology:: Middle English fagen, fayn, from Old English fægen; akin to Old English gefēon to rejoice, Old High German gifehan, Old Norse feginn happy
Date:: before 12th century

1archaic : happy , pleased2archaic : inclined , desirous3 a: willing <he was very fain, for the young widow was “altogether fair and lovely…” — Amy Kelly> b: being obliged or constrained : compelled <Great Britain was fain to devote its whole energy…to the business of slaying and being slain — G. M. Trevelyan>

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