fægen

From Proto-West Germanic *fagan, from Proto-Germanic *faganaz (“glad”), from Proto-Indo-European *peḱ- (“to make glad, make attractive”). Cognate with Old Norse feginn (“glad”).

• IPA^(key): /ˈfæ.jen/

fæġen

1. joyful, rejoicing, fain
   • 10th century, The Wanderer:

     Ne sċeal nō tō hātheort, · ne tō hrædwyrde,
     ne tō wāc wiga, · ne tō wanhȳdiġ,
     ne tō forht, ne tō fæġen, · ne tō feohġīfre,
     ne nǣfre ġielpes tō ġeorn, · ǣr hē ġeare cunne.

     Should not be too wrathful, nor too hasty in words,
     nor too weak warrior, nor too careless,
     nor too fearful, nor too joyful, nor too eager for money,
     nor ever too eager of pride, before he would know enough.

• Middle English: fain
  • English: fain
  • Scots: fain