"His mother would fain marry him to get a portion for his sister . . . ." Today we would say "would fain marry him OFF to get a portion . . . ." That makes more sense, except that today we don't use "would fain."
I (born 1950) have heard the use of "fain" with this meaning when I was young, but in the context of someone speaking, naturally, Lancashire dialect. But not more recently.
Comments
Third Reading
About Saturday 17 November 1660
JMW • Link
"His mother would fain marry him to get a portion for his sister . . . ."
Today we would say "would fain marry him OFF to get a portion . . . ."
That makes more sense, except that today we don't use "would fain."
I (born 1950) have heard the use of "fain" with this meaning when I was young, but in the context of someone speaking, naturally, Lancashire dialect. But not more recently.