Fain, adv. gladly, willingly; never used but joined to would; followed by a clause: “the good old man would f. that all were well,” H6C IV, 7, 31. Oftener by an inf.: “I would f. die a dry death,” Tp. I, 1, 72. Gentl. II, 1, 180. Wiv. II, 2, 151. Meas. V, 15. Meas. V, 15 Meas. V, 15 Err. III, 1, 66. Ado II, 1, 383. III, 5, 32. V, 1, 124. LLL V, 2, 372. As I, 2, 170. III, 3, 46. Shr. II, 74. All's V, 3, 115. Wint. V, 2, 96. H4B II, 4, 13. H5 I, 1, 85. III, 7, 91. IV, 7, 171. R3 III, 1, 29. Troil. III, 1, 149. V, 4, 5. Rom. II, 4, 214. Caes. I, 2, 240. Mcb. V, 3, 28. Hml. II, 2, 131. Hml. II, 2, 131 Lr. I, 2, 70. I, 4, 30. I, 4, 30 Oth. II, 3, 32. “full f.” H5 III, 2, 127 (Jamy's speech). “you would not have him die. No man alive so f. as I,” H6B III, 1, 244. “I would very f. speak with you,” Oth. IV, 1, 175. Severed from would: “I would forget it f.” Rom. III, 2, 109. Preceding would: “and now she f. would speak,” Ven. 221. LLL V, 2, 756. H4B II, 3, 65. H6A II, 3, 9. V, 3, 65. H6B III, 2, 141. R3 I, 4, 74. H8 II, 1, 25. Rom. II, 2, 88. Hml. III, 2, 236. IV, 7, 191. “most f. would steal,” All's II, 5, 86. “how f. would I wash my hands,” R3 I, 4, 279. “how f. would I have hated all mankind,” Tim. IV, 3, 506.
Shakespeare Lexicon. Alexander Schmidt. Berlin. Georg Reimer. 1902.
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