Middle English Dictionary Entry
fain adv.
Entry Info
| Forms | fain adv. Also faȝe, fawe(n, vawe, fene, vain, vein, vane, wane. |
| Etymology | From adj. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
Gladly, joyfully; willingly, eagerly;--often with wolde.
Associated quotations
- a1225(?OE) Lamb.Hom.(Lamb 487)35 : Ic walde fein pinian and sitten..on snawe up et mine chinne.
- c1275(?a1200) Lay.Brut (Clg A.9)15626 : We scullen þis don fain.
- ?a1300 Maximian (Dgb 86)199 : Deþ ich wolde fawe.
- c1300 SLeg.Cross (LdMisc 108)166 : Of is lijf he was a-nuyd and wolde beo ded wel fawe.
- c1325(c1300) Glo.Chron.A (Clg A.11)224 : Wane [vrr. fayn, vayne, fawe] he wolde iwite ȝwat [etc.].
- c1330(?a1300) Tristrem (Auch)660 : He..kist rohand ful fain.
- a1350 SLeg.Brendan (Ashm 43)92 : We scholle vawe wiþ þe wende.
- 1372 Als i lay vp-on (Adv 18.7.21)72/59 : If i koude, fawen wold i To don al at þi pay.
- a1375(1335-1361) WPal.(KC 13)859 : Fayn sche wold..haue him clipped.
- c1380 Firumb.(1) (Ashm 33)308 : Þanne wolde þay wel faȝe..Þat sir Olyuer hadde be slaȝe.
- (a1393) Gower CA (Frf 3)5.3789 : Sche wolde have kist him wonder fayn, Bot schame tornede hire agayn.
- a1400(?a1350) Siege Troy(1) (Eg 2862)17/178 : When she herde her fader was slawe, She ȝede and hidde hur ful fawȝ.
- c1400(?c1380) Cleanness (Nero A.10)1629 : I fayn wolde Wyt þe wytte of þe wryt.
- a1425(c1385) Chaucer TC (Benson-Robinson)4.887 : He desireth fawe With yow to ben al nyght.
- a1450(a1387) PPl.A(2) (RwlPoet 137)12.66 : I wolde folwe þe fayn, but fentesye me hendeþ.
- c1430(c1380) Chaucer PF (Benson-Robinson)480 : I am hire treweste man..and faynest wolde hire ese.
- (a1438) MKempe A (Add 61823)173/11 : God toke many owt of þis worlde, whech wolde a leuyd ful fawyn.
- a1450 Castle Persev.(Folg V.a.354)3513 : Rytwysnes..wolde fayn & fast þat it were so.
- c1450(1369) Chaucer BD (Benson-Robinson)1101 : For wonder feyn I wolde hir se.
- a1500(c1370) Chaucer Comp.L.(Benson-Robinson)77 : In this world..is ther noon That fayner wolde your hertes wil fulfille.
- ?a1475 Ludus C.(Vsp D.8)29/1 : I wolde ffayn knowe.
- (?1475) Stonor156 : Fene I wolde here tell þat [etc.].
- a1500(?c1400) Song Roland (Lnsd 388)258 : He wold fanest haue þer he leseis.