Fain

a. [A-S. fägen, fagen, glad, feð, equivalent to feaha, gladness, joy, gefeohan, fagnian, to rejoice; O. Sax. fagan, a. faganōn; O. H. Ger. gafēhan, to be glad, gafāg, content, fagōn, gafagon, to satisfy; Icel. fagna, to be glad, feginn, glad; Sw. fägna, a. fägen; Goth. faginon, to rejoice, fahēds, joy.] Well-pleased; glad; rejoiced; disposed; inclined; forward; apt; wont; especially, content to accept, for lack of any thing better, as the more desirable of two alternatives.

Men and birds are fain of climbing high. Shak.

To a busy man, temptation is fain to climb up together with his business. Bp. Taylor.

With joy or pleasure; gladly;— with would.

Fain would I woo her, yet I dare not. Shak.

v. i. To wish or desire. [Obs.] “In his faining eye.” Spenser.*