Obs. Forms: 1 fæʓenian, fæʓnian, fahnian, 2 faȝenien, 3 faȝnien, fainen, (fawe), 3–6 fayne, (4 feyn), 3–7 faine. See also FAWN v. [OE. fæʓnian, fæʓenian (f. fæʓen, FAIN) = ON. fagna, OS. faganôn, faginôn, OHG. faginôn, feginôn, Goth. faginôn.]
1. intr. To be delighted or glad, rejoice. Const. of (earlier genitive), on, in; with to and inf. also, to desire, wish.
c. 888. K. Ælfred, Boeth., xxx. § 1. Ne sceal he na [þe] hræþor to unʓemetlice fæʓnian ð[æs] folces worda.
a. 1000. Boeth. Metr., i. 66. Fæʓnodon ealle.
c. 1000. Ags. Gosp., Mark. xiv. 11. Þa hi þis ʓehyrdon hi fahnodon [c. 1160, Hatton Gosp. fageneden].
c. 1200. Trin. Coll. Hom., 135. Fele shule faȝenien on his burde.
c. 1205. Lay., 21843.
| Þa fainede swiðe | |
| folc an hirede | |
| Of Arðures cume. |
a. 1240. Ureisun, in Cott. Hom., 199. Ȝif þu wult hit iðauien iwis he wule ðurchut fawe.
a. 1300. E. E. Psalter, v. 12. And fayne sal alle þat hope in þe.
a. 1340. Hampole, Psalter, xxxi. 14. Ffaynes in lord & glades rightwis.
c. 1380. Wyclif, Serm., Sel. Wks. I. 246. Clerkis shulde helpe here in Goddis cause, and feyn to be discharged of erþeli goodis.
a. 1400–50. Alexander, 1745. Feyne all with fairnes & fayne at þou may.
c. 1450. Mirour Saluacioun, 417. And thogh some tyme be gude the werld make man to fayne.
1596. Spenser, F. Q., V. xii. 36. [She] faynes to weave false tales.
b. To pretend kindness. Cf. FAWN v.
a. 1225. Ancr. R., 194. Hwonne ou ne wonteð nowiht, þeonne ueineð he mid ou.
2. trans. To make glad. Hence to welcome (a person); also, to congratulate (const. of).
c. 1250. Gen. & Ex., 1441.
| Eliezer … broȝt him a wif … | |
| He faȝnede hire wið milde mod. |
a. 1300. E. E. Psalter, xlii[i]. 4. God þat faines mi youthede al.
a. 1375. Joseph Arim., 243.
| Er þei speeken to me feire · and faynede me wiþ wordes, | |
| Bote þei hateden me · and hedden de-deyn. |
a. 1400–50. Alexander, 2.
| Fayn wold þai here | |
| Sum farand þing efter fode to fayn þere her[t]. |
1480. Robt. Devyll, 10. Of hys companye no man us fayne.
3. To rejoice in, enjoy; also, to take to gladly, show preference for. rare.
1483. Caxton, Cato, E viij. I wyl not that ye … suppose that … synnars faynen [L. lucrari] theyr synnes wythout to haue … punycyon … in thys world or in the other.
1606. Warner, Alb. Eng., XVI. ci. (1612), 399. The sprewsest Citie-Lads for her would faine the Countrie-aire.
Hence † Faining ppl. a., gladsome, affectionate; also, longing, wistful.
c. 1400. Destr. Troy, 12732.
| Clunestra … Resaynit hym with Reuerence, as Renke to his owne, | |
| With a faynond fare vndur fals thoght. |
1596. Spenser, Hymns, Hon. Love, 216.
| His harts enshrined saing, his heavens queene | |
| Fairer then fairest, in his fayning eye, | |
| Whose sole aspect he counts felicitye. |
