fains

Verb

fain (third-person singular simple present fains, present participle faining, simple past and past participle fained)

1. (archaic, obsolete, rare, transitive) To be delighted or glad about (someone or something); to rejoice in; also, to favour or prefer (someone or something).
   • Hovv often vvould the Svvaines prepare their Morrice & their May / To haue a ſight of her, vvhen all enamoured vvent their vvay? / The ſprevvſeſt Citie-Lads for her vvould faine the Countrie-aire, / And that their prouder Girles had but adultrate beauties ſvvaire, […]1606, William Warner, “The Sixteenth Booke. Chapter CI.”, in A Continuance of Albions England: […], London: […] Felix Kyngston [and Richard Bradock?] for George Potter, […], →OCLC, page 399
2. (archaic, obsolete, transitive) To make (someone) glad; to gladden; hence, to congratulate (someone); to welcome (someone).

   Synonyms:

   delight, perk up, beatify, enrapture, begladden, blissen, bright, cheer, fetch, cheer up

3. (Germanic, archaic, intransitive, obsolete) To celebrate or worship; specifically, to offer an oblation which is not a sacrificial blót (“ceremonial offering”).
4. (archaic, intransitive, obsolete) Chiefly followed by of, in, on, or to: to be delighted or glad; to rejoice.
   • A diſtaffe in her other hand ſhe had, / Vpon the vvhich ſhe litle ſpinnes, but ſpils, / And faynes to vveaue falſe tales and leaſings bad, / To throvv amongſt the good, vvhich others had diſprad.1596, Edmund Spenser, “Book V, Canto XII”, in The Faerie Queene. […], part II (books IV–VI), London: […] [Richard Field] for William Ponsonby, →OCLC, stanza 36, page 351
5. (archaic, intransitive, obsolete) To desire, to wish.

See all 14 meanings of fain