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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