fain
adverb (old use, mostly in 'would fain')
Everyday
Fain means gladly or willingly; «would fain» means would like very much to. tree →
In the lessons
in fairy tales, a hero says «I would fain» to mean «I would very much like to»
Examples
Note
nothing for maths
In Jewish tradition
An old word meaning gladly or willingly; here "would fain flee" means would eagerly like to escape. In the primary lessons: in fairy tales, a hero says «I would fain» to mean «I would very much like to»
Examples
- Yea, it hurleth at him, and spareth not; he would fain flee from its power. (Writings JOB.27.22, JPS 1917) tree →
Note
nothing for maths
Early Modern English
Meaning
gladly or willingly. tree →
Then and now
No longer used except in 'would fain'; today we say gladly or would like to very much.
Examples
- I'd fain see him to have a turn with him." (More English Fairy Tales) tree →
- ‘I would fain get a sight of the king’s son before he marries,’ sighed she. (The Lilac Fairy Book) tree →
- ‘I am weary,’ said Arthur, ‘and till my food is prepared I would fain sleep. (The Lilac Fairy Book) tree →
Note
Today: gladly.
On Mova
- Trees and pragmatics of «fain» in the school dictionary: every meaning and example parsed by Mova, with its dependency tree and frames.
- «fain» in the school dictionary on Mova free.
- Trees and pragmatics of «fain» in the Judaism dictionary: every meaning and example parsed by Mova, with its dependency tree and frames.
- «fain» in the Judaism dictionary on Mova free.
- Trees and pragmatics of «fain» in the Early Modern English dictionary: every meaning and example parsed by Mova, with its dependency tree and frames.
- «fain» in the Early Modern English dictionary on Mova free.
This page in Markdown → https://md.dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/english/fain/