单词 | fain |
释义 | fain (once / 480 pages) 1adj 2adv The old-fashioned word fain describes the feeling of gladly or willingly doing something. You would fain have stayed home, but you had to venture out in the rain. Fain comes from the Old English fægen, meaning "happy, glad, or well pleased." When you're fain to do something, you are happy to do it, like when you're exhausted and would fain take a nap. Sometimes fain is also used as an adjective when you're obligated to do something, or when you're happy enough, given the lack of better options: "He was fain to hand over half he lemonade stand money to his little brother." WORD FAMILYfain: fainer, fainest, fainly, fains USAGE EXAMPLESAnd Ms. Fain’s Irene begins to resemble a shrewder, richer Jewish variation on the romantically conflicted Madge from Inge’s “Picnic.” New York Times(Nov 21, 2016) It then hired Scott Johnson of the L.A. firm Johnson Fain to lead a redesign of the cathedral. Los Angeles Times(Nov 17, 2016) Alexandra Fain, director of Asia Now, Europe’s only dedicated Asian art fair, says she finds a new openness in Paris. The Guardian(Nov 05, 2016) 1 adj having made preparations 2Syn disposed, inclined, prepared willing disposed or inclined toward adv in a willing manner I would fain do it Syn gladly, lief |
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