FAIN

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 Dictionary entry overview: What does fain mean? 

• FAIN (adjective)
  The adjective FAIN has 1 sense:

1. having made preparations

  Familiarity information: FAIN used as an adjective is very rare.

• FAIN (adverb)
  The adverb FAIN has 1 sense:

1. in a willing manner

  Familiarity information: FAIN used as an adverb is very rare.

 Dictionary entry details 

• FAIN (adjective)

Comparative: fainer   
Superlative: fainest   

Sense 1

Meaning:

Having made preparations

Synonyms:

disposed; fain; inclined; prepared

Context example:

prepared to take risks

Similar:

willing (disposed or inclined toward)

• FAIN (adverb)

Sense 1

Meaning:

In a willing manner

Synonyms:

fain; gladly; lief

Context example:

I would fain do it

 Context examples 

Yet I would fain have your rede and counsel, Sir Simon.

(The White Company, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

I would fain exercise some better faculty than that of fierce speaking; fain find nourishment for some less fiendish feeling than that of sombre indignation.

(Jane Eyre, by Charlotte Brontë)

Martin listened and fain would have rubbed his eyes.

(Martin Eden, by Jack London)

It was a characteristic feature in this repentance, that I was fain to ask what these two men had done, to be there at all.

(David Copperfield, by Charles Dickens)

I would fain have rebelled, but felt that in the present state of things it would be madness to quarrel openly with the Count whilst I am so absolutely in his power; and to refuse would be to excite his suspicion and to arouse his anger.

(Dracula, by Bram Stoker)

The speckled band!’ There was something else which she would fain have said, and she stabbed with her finger into the air in the direction of the Doctor’s room, but a fresh convulsion seized her and choked her words.

(The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

“I shall not vex you, nor even speak,” she said; “but I would fain keep with you while we are in the wood.”

(The White Company, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

I would fain at the moment have become bee or lizard, that I might have found fitting nutriment, permanent shelter here.

(Jane Eyre, by Charlotte Brontë)

Sweeping gusts of rain came up before this storm, like showers of steel; and, at those times, when there was any shelter of trees or lee walls to be got, we were fain to stop, in a sheer impossibility of continuing the struggle.

(David Copperfield, by Charles Dickens)

“Nay,” said he eagerly, “I would fain hear it.”

(The White Company, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)