The quality or state of being fain; the condition of being gladly willing or pleased.
From Middle English 'fain' (gladly, willingly) derived from Old English 'fægn' meaning joyful or willing, plus the suffix '-ness' indicating state or quality. The meaning has remained relatively stable since Old English times, referring to a gladness or willingness.
The word 'fain' almost completely disappeared from modern English, but it survives in famous phrases like 'I would fain' in Shakespeare's plays—and this rare noun form reminds us that English once had richer ways to express subtle emotional states like 'being pleased to do something.'
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