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A Dictionary of the Older Scottish Tongue (up to 1700)

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First published 1951 (DOST Vol. II).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

Fain(e, Fayn(e, Fane, a. Also: fean. [ME. fain(e, fayn(e, feyn(e, etc., OE. fæᵹen, ON. feginn.]

1. Glad, delighted, well-pleased.(a) 1375 Barb. viii. 112 (E).
Schyr Aymer wes na thing fayn, Quhen he herd tell on that maner [etc.]
Ib. xvii. l.
The lordis off the land war fayne Quhen thai wist he wes cummyn agan
c1420 Wynt. ii. 411.
With that worde he was so fayne That his speryt quyknyt agayne
a1500 Seven S. 1774.
To the empriour thai come agane Sa blythlie that thai maide him fayne
a1570-86 Maitl. F. lxxi. 31.
My ȝouthe is past and I am glaid and fayne
1540 Lynd. Sat. 4274.
Quhen fuillis ar fow, then ar they faine
a1598 Ferg. Prov. (1641) 9.
He is twise fain, that sits on a staine
(b) a1400 Leg. S. i. 66.
Petir wes fane, and bad hir trew Fermly euir in Criste Ihesu
c1460 Thewis Gud Women 271.
Quhen thai forfalt, thai are fane
a1500 Seven S. 2681.
Sodanly thai … flawe away as thai war fane
1535 Stewart 1109.
Oftymes fair hechtis makis fuillis fane
1570 Sat. P. xii. 184.
Than war I fane, bot all in vane

b. Const. of (the source of gladness).(a) 1375 Barb. iii. 512.
He for pite gret agayne, That neuir off metyng wes sa fayne
a1400 Leg. S. xxxii. 93.
Thai of that awisione Fayne ware
c1420 Wynt. v. 4970.
Off this the kyng was na thyng fayne
c1460 Thewis Wysmen 405.
Of vthiris menis scaith thai ar ay fayn
c1475 Wall. ii. 39.
The churll … of that proffir was fayn
1513 Doug. xiii. Prol. 102.
I am the samyn, and of thé nathyng fayn
a1585 Arbuthnot Maitl. Q. xlii. 75.
That is socht quhairof the flesche is faine [Fol. fane]
a1598 Ferg. Prov. (1641) 7.
Fooles are fain of flitting
(b) a1500 Seven S. 402.
Tharof his master was full fane
1513 Doug. xi. Prol. 96.
He … of this fals warld makis thé fane
1535 Stewart 38237.
He … of thair cuming was so glaid and fane
c1550 Lynd. Meldrum 1527.
He … lang time did with him remane, Of quhome this agit lord was fane
1570 Sat. P. xii. 28.
Of this foule fact suppois our fais be fane
a1605 Montg. Son. xxviii. 2.
A louing dog wes of his maister fane

2. Well-pleased, satisfied, or content to do or undergo something.(a) 1375 Barb. i. 502.
Thai sall be Fayn to mak thaim-selwyn fre
a1400 Leg. S. xxvii. 1051.
He … is now ful fayne hym for to pray
1456 Hay I. 219/17.
Thare was … King Johan … fayn to put him in the handis of the pape
c1515 Asl. MS. I. 191/8.
We and the Pictis resistit thaim all in sic wys that thai war fayne to ces
a1508 Kennedy Flyt. 363.
Thou wald be fayn to gnaw … smoch banis behynd doggis bakkis
a1570-86 Maitland Maitl. F. clxxiv. 15.
The puir folk … ar faine to grie for thing of nocht
c1615 Chron. Kings 143.
The Erlle of Bothuell … being dissapoyntit wes fayne to reteir without ony gritt skayth done
(b) a1400 Leg. S. ii. 418.
Thai … war richt fane to fle a-way
a1500 Bernardus 270.
For halffe the golde to geff tham men ar fane
a1500 Seven S. 2252.
I wald be fane the suth to heire
1535 Stewart 40187.
Ȝe suld be fanar me to forgaue Ane hundret fald nor ȝe ar me till haue
1560 Rolland Seven S. 5737.
Quhen he is deid, ȝe … wald be fane to scart him out of eird
1596 Dalr. II. 166/31.
Dakres and the rest of the wardanis … war fane to procure a day of true
1600-1610 Melvill 134.
He was fean till eat of a magre guse

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"Fain adj.". Dictionary of the Scots Language. 2004. Scottish Language Dictionaries Ltd. Accessed 7 Nov 2024 <http://www.dsl.ac.uk/entry/dost/faine_adj>

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