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Does anybody know what "fain" means?
There is an old hymn call "Beneath The Cross of Jesus".
It says: Beneath the cross of Jesus, I fain would take my stand.
I love to read old hymns. Their poetry is wonderful and they say reading is done with the opposite side of the brain than singing, so it's like seeing them for the first time.
To some of you: If you HAVE to make a crack about Christians not having brains, go ahead if you must, but its been done to death. :)...besides..in my case I would have to agree....
6 Answers
- Anonymous1 decade agoFavorite Answer
fain (fn)
adv.
1. Happily; gladly: "I would fain improve every opportunity to wonder and worship, as a sunflower welcomes the light" (Henry David Thoreau).
2. Archaic Preferably; rather.
adj. Archaic
1. Ready; willing.
2. Pleased; happy.
3. Obliged or required.
[Middle English, from Old English fægen, joyful, glad.]
Google it, and the song.
- fixerkenLv 71 decade ago
Main Entry: 1fain
Pronunciation: \ËfÄn\
Function: adjective
Etymology: Middle English fagen, fayn, from Old English fægen; akin to Old English gefÄon to rejoice, Old High German gifehan, Old Norse feginn happy
Date: before 12th century
1 archaic : happy, pleased
2 archaic : inclined, desirous
3 a : willing <he was very fain, for the young widow was “altogether fair and lovely…” — Amy Kelly> b : being obliged or constrained : compelled <Great Britain was fain to devote its whole energy…to the business of slaying and being slain — G. M. Trevelyan>
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