Fain
Easton’s Bible Dictionary & Webster’s 1828 Dictionary · Matthew George Easton, Noah Webster
Fain - (Webster's 1828 Dictionary)
FAIN, a.
1. Glad; pleased; rejoiced. but the appropriate sense of the word is, glad or pleased to do something under some kind of necessity; that is, glad to evade evil or secure good. Thus, says Locke, ""The learned Castalio was fain to make trenches at Basil, to keep himself from starving."" this appropriation of the word, which is modern, led Dr. Johnson into a mistake in defining the word. The proper signification is glad, joyful.
FAIN, adv. Gladly; with joy or pleasure.
He would fain flee out of his hand. Job 28.
He would fain have filled his belly with husks. Luke 15.
FAIN, v.i. to wish or desire. [Not used.]
In other dictionaries
Read “Fain” in the 2 dictionariesSource of the article
Matthew George Easton, Easton’s Bible Dictionary; Noah Webster, American Dictionary of the English Language (1828)
Bible Strong combined digital edition