Forms: 1–2 willa, (1 -o), 1–7 wil, 2–4 wile, 2–7 wille, 3–6 wylle, 4–6 wyll, wyl (2 welle, 4 wele, Sc. vil, 5 wel, well, wulle, wyle, 6 Sc. vill, 9 Sc. dial. wull), 1– will. [OE. willa wk. masc. = OFris. willa (EFris. wel, WFris. wille), OS. willio, MDu. wille, Du. wil, OHG. willo, willjo (MHG., G. wille, willen), ON. vili, vilja- (Sw. vilja, Da. vilje), Goth. wilja:—OTeut. *wiljon-:—pre-Teut. *weljon-; also OE. wil(l str. n. (chiefly in gen.: see sense 10), = ON. vil, and OE. ʓewil, -wile str. n. I-WILL; see WILL v.1]
I. 1. Desire, wish, longing; liking, inclination, disposition (to do something). In mod. use colored by or merged in sense 5.
Beowulf, 635. Þæt ic anunga eowra leoda willan ʓeworhte.
a. 900. Cynewulf, Juliana, 50. Ic beo ʓearo sona … willan þines.
c. 1000. Ags. Gosp., John i. 13. Ða ne synt acennede … of flæsces willan, ne of weres willan; ac hiʓ synt of gode acennede.
a. 1225. Ancr. R., 60. Wilnen, & habe wille uorte beon iwilned.
12[?]. Moral Ode, 172 (Egerton MS.). Þe brode stret is vre iwil ðe is us lod for to lete. Þe ðe al folewed his wil, fared bi þusse strete.
c. 1300. Beket, 121. So gret wille him com to To wende eft to the holi lond, that he nuste what do.
c. 1315. Shoreham, I. 421. Ac nou þat wil þat is to gode His al iset bi-hinde.
1340. Ayenb., 9. Wyþoute greate wille an willinge uor to harmi oþren.
1375. Barbour, Bruce, XV. 79. I trow that he Sall haf no gret will for to ficht.
c. 1450. Knt. de la Tour, 14. Fastinge … refrainithe the flesshe of euelle willes.
1485. Caxton, Paris & V. (1868), 69. He had grete wylle to goo to Iherusalem.
1568. Grafton, Chron., I. 91. As he and his Souldiours had no will to marrie the daughters of the Frenchmen.
1591. Shaks., Two Gent., I. iii. 63. My will is something sorted with his wish. Ibid. (1601), Jul. C., III. iii. 3. I haue no will to wander foorth of doores, Yet something leads me foorth.
1837. Dickens, Pickw., xvii. Don’t stop him, Maria,… if he has the will to strike me, let him.
1844. Kinglake, Eöthen, vii. There was a will, and a longing, more imperious than mere curiosity.
1896. Housman, Shropsh. Lad, xxxiii. This long and sure-set liking, This boundless will to please.
b. An inclination to do something, as contrasted with power or opportunity.
1594. Kyd, Cornelia, III. iii. Shee hath not onely power and will T’abuse the vulgar wanting skill.
1647. W. Browne, Polexander, III. IV. 113. The Queene … is perswaded I have serv’d her because I had a will to it.
1667. Earl Orrery, St. Lett. (1742), 308. They desired the power, and want not the will, to do us an ill turn.
1697. Dryden, Æneis, VII. 279. Not forc’d to Goodness, but by Will inclin’d.
1751. Johnson, Rambler, No. 178, ¶ 14. Great Numbers who quarrel with their Condition have wanted not the Power but the Will to obtain a better State.
1818. Scott, Br. Lamm., xxv. Your lordship … will experience that the faculty of the present proprietor to entertain his friends is greatly abridged,… the will, I need hardly say, remains the same.
1832. Lander, Exped. Niger, xxi. III. 263. Mr. Lake had certainly a will or inclination to enter into arrangements with him.
1879. Froude, Cæsar, x. 111. No one questioned that it could be done if there was a will to do it.
† 2. spec. Carnal desire or appetite: = DESIRE sb. 2.
971. Blickl. Hom., 19. Þa flæsclican willan & þa unʓereclican uncysta.
c. 1000. Sax. Leechd., I. 358. Weres wylla to ʓefremmanne nime bares ʓeallan.
c. 1400. Rule St. Benet (verse), 37. All fleschly wyll for to for-sak.
1593. Shaks., Lucr., 247. Thus … holds he disputation, Tweene frozen conscience and hot burning will. Ibid. (1603), Meas. for M., II. iv. 164. Redeeme thy brother, By yeelding vp thy bodie to my will.
3. transf. (chiefly as obj. of have): That which one desires, (one’s) ‘desire.’ Now arch. or poet.
c. 950. Lindisf. Gosp., John v. 30. Ne soeco ic uillo min ah uillo his seðe mec asende.
a. 1122. O. E. Chron. (Laud MS.), an. 1097. Se cyng ʓeseah þæt he nan þingc his willes þær ʓeforðian ne mihte.
a. 1300. Cursor M., 26880. Þe warlau sal noght in þis man Haue sa mikel of his will, Als if he desseli did ill.
a. 1310. in Wright, Lyric P., x. 37. Have ȝe or wyl, ȝe waxeth unwraste.
1390. Gower, Conf., I. 73. He … With blinde tales so hire ladde, That all his wille of hire he hadde.
c. 1420. ? Lydg., Assembly of Gods, 1309. Bettyr were a chylde to be vnbore, Then let hyt haue the wyll & for euer be lore.
a. 1508. Dunbar, Tua Mariit Wemen, 336. Quhill I oucht wantit of my will, or quhat I wald desir.
1593. Shaks., 3 Hen. VI., I. iv. 144. Would’st haue me weepe? why now thou hast thy will. Ibid. (1593), Lucr., 128. The sundrie dangers of his wils obtaining.
1611. W. Adams, Lett., in Rundall, Mem. Japon (Hakl. Soc.), 25. God … would not suffer them to haue their willes of vs.
1693. Locke, Educ., § 35. He had the Will of his Maid before he could Speak or Go.
1798. Coleridge, Anc. Mar., I. iv. The Wedding-Guest … listens like a three years’ child: The Mariner hath his will.
1865. Swinburne, Atalanta, 929. Have all thy will of words; talk out thine heart.
1896. Housman, Shropsh. Lad, xxv. A lad that lives and has his will is worth a dozen dead.
b. A desire or wish as expressed in a request; hence (contextually) the expression of a wish, a request, petition (sometimes passing into the sense ‘a command’: see 7). arch. or dial.
What’s your will? (now arch. or dial., esp. Sc.): What do you want? What do you wish me to do?
1340. Ayenb., 138. Þanne zayþ he … þet he y-herþ þe benes and þe wylles of þe poure.
c. 1400. Destr. Troy, 1918. When Castor hade clanly consayuit his wille, He onswared hym honestly with ornyng a litill.
a. 1510. Douglas, K. Hart, II. 21. May thow nocht heir? Langar how I culd schout! What war ȝour will? I will cum in but dout.
1591. Shaks., Two Gent., IV. ii. 92. Sil. What’s your will? Pro. That I may compasse yours. Sil. You haue your wish: my will is euen this, That presently you hie you home to bed. Ibid. (1606), Ant. & Cl., I. ii. 7. Alex. Soothsayer. Sooth. Your will? Char. Is this the Man? Is’t you sir that know things?
1775. Sheridan, Rivals, V. iii. Tell me now, Mr. Acres, in case of an accident, is there any little will or commission I could execute for you?
1808. Jamieson s.v., What’s your will? a common Scotticism for, ‘What did you say?’ It is also given as a reply to one who calls.
1826. Galt, Last of Lairds, i. 5. When … one of the lasses looks from behind it, and says, ‘What’s your wull and pleasure?’
c. To take one’s will: to do as one pleases (in respect of). Chiefly Sc.
1825. Jamieson, s.v., To tak one’s will o’. 1. To treat or use as one pleases. 2. To take as much of any thing as one pleases.
1882. G. Macdonald, Castle Warlock, vi. He … jist loot the maister tak his wull o’ ’im!
1890. Good Words, Aug., 565/2. Carr let his own horse take its will.
† 4. Pleasure, delight, joy. Obs.
Beowulf, 824. Denum eallum wearð æfter þam wælræse willa ʓelumpen.
a. 1000. Andreas, 356. Forʓife þe dryhten domweorðunga willan in worulde & in wuldre blæd.
a. 1240. Ureisun, 46, in O. E. Hom., I. 193. Mid engiene wille. Ibid., 62. Inouh liues wil and eche pleie.
[a. 1250: see 12 a.]
a. 1310. in Wright, Lyric P., iv. 23. This wilde wille went a-wai, with mone and mournyng muchel un-mete.
b. To have no will of (Sc.), † in: to take no pleasure in, have no liking for.
1609. Bible (Douay), Mal. i. 10. I have no wil in you.
c. 1626. in W. K. Tweedie, Sel. Biogr. (Wodrow Soc.), I. 353. I have na will of strangers.
1871. W. Alexander, Johnny Gibb, xxii. Na, man; I hinna will o’t.
II. 5. The action of willing or choosing to do something; the movement or attitude of the mind which is directed with conscious intention to (and, normally, issues immediately in) some action, physical or mental; volition.
971. Blickl. Hom., 35. We … agyltaþ þurh feower þing, þurh ʓeþoht, & þurh word, & þurh weorc, & þurh willan.
c. 1230. Hali Meid. (Titus MS.), 123. Ga ut þrof wið wil of þin heorte.
a. 1300. Cursor M., 13759. He said noght allan, ‘namar þou sin,’ Bot ‘lok þi will bi noght þar-in.’
c. 1386. Chaucer, Sqr.’s Prol., 5. I wol seye as I kan With hertly wyl.
c. 1475. Stonor Papers (Camden), I. 160. Yff … he wull geve hys dowttyr hys part of Snowys well … I wold with the glader wyll dele with hym.
a. 1619. Fletcher, etc., Q. Corinth, III. ii. You know well Even actual sins committed without will, Are neither sins nor shame.
1742. Young, Nt. Th., IV. 615. But since the naked will obtains thy smile, Beneath this monument of praise unpaid.
1831. G. P. R. James, Philip Aug., xxviii. He strove to speak, but no voice answered his will.
1861. Mill, Utilitar., iv. 59. Will, the active phenomenon, is a different thing from desire, the state of passive sensibility.
b. Intention, intent, purpose, determination. ? Obs.
a. 1300. Cursor M., 23552. If it sett þam in to will To mak anoiþer erth or heuen.
c. 1375. Sc. Leg. Saints, xxxiii. (George), 1. Ȝete of sancte george is my wil,… To translat þe haly story.
1390. Gower, Conf., VIII. 3037*. With al the wil that I mai yive.
c. 1400. Destr. Troy, 4222. Þai wetyn full wele þe wyllys of vs here, That we purpos a pouer to put in hor lond.
1450–1530. Myrr. Our Ladye, II. 267. Hou we oughte … to say that salutacion wyth wylle to leue synne and to do good dedes.
1471. Caxton, Recuyell (Sommer), 547. By one wylle and volente.
1477. Earl Rivers (Caxton), Dictes (1877), 1. I rested in that wyll & purpose.
1483. Cath. Angl., 418/3. Of an [= one] Wille, vnanimis.
1523. Ld. Berners, Froiss., I. xxxix. 22/2. Whan the flemynges … sawe the fierse wylles of them within.
1619. J. Taylor (Water P.), Kicksey Winsey, B 2. Your wills are good, and whilst I keepe your bills Instead of paiment I accept good wills.
1712. Arbuthnot, John Bull, IV. iii. My Will at present is to have Dinner.
c. Will to with sb. or inf. (after G. Wille zu).
Cf. Der Wille zum Leben in the title of Schopenhauer’s Welt als Wille und Vorstellung, IV., 1819.
1823. J. C. Robertson, Percy Anecdotes, XI. Imagination, 87 (heading), The Will to be Well.
1896. Tille, trans. Nietzsche’s Thus Spake Zarathustra, 163. Wherever I found living matter I found will unto power; and even in the will of the serving, I found the will to be master.
1903. Chesterton, R. Browning, vi. 139. That really boisterous will to live which may be found in Martin Chuzzlewit.
1907. Zimmern trans. Nietzsche’s Beyond Good & Evil, 20. § 13. A living thing seeks above all to discharge its strength—life itself is Will to Power; self-preservation is only one of the indirect and most frequent results thereof.
1908. R. Bagot, A. Cuthbert, xxviii. 370. The triumph of the will to live over the threatening assaults of death.
6. The power or capacity of willing; that faculty or function that is directed to conscious and intentional action; power of choice in regard to action. (See also FREE WILL.)
c. 888. Ælfred, Boeth., xiv. § 2. Andʓit & ʓemynd, & se ʓesceadwislica willa þæt hine þara tweʓa lyste.
c. 1000. Ælfric, Hom., I. 288. Of ðam willan cumað ʓeðohtas, and word, and weorc.
a. 1175. Cott. Hom., 219. Se fader and his wisdom … hare beire wille þat is se hali gast.
c. 1200. Ormin, 11509. Wille iss hire þridde mahht Þurrh whatt menn immess ȝeornenn.
a. 1300. Cursor M., 664. He þam gaf þer will alfre; Þe gode to do, to leue þe ill.
1390. Gower, Conf., I. 322. Thi will is thi principal, And hath the lordschipe of thi witt.
c. 1460. Wisdom, 213, in Macro Plays, 42. And I of þe soull am þe wyll.
1538. Starkey, England (1878), 29. Euer the wy! chesyth the yl, and leuyth the gud.
1590. Shaks., Mids. N., II. ii. 115. The will of man is by his reason sway’d.
1594. Hooker, Eccl. Pol., I. vii. § 3. Appetite is the wills sollicitor, and the will is appetites controller; what we couet according to the one, by the other we often reiect. Ibid. (1597), V. xlviii. § 9. Will, whether it be in God or man, belongeth to the essence and nature of both.
1601. Shaks., Jul. C., II. ii. 71. The cause is in my Will, I will not come.
1635. A. Stafford, Fem. Glory, 63. Whose Wils and Vnderstandings have a combat before they can bee brought to a consent.
1667. Milton, P. L., I. 106. All is not lost; the unconquerable Will,… And courage never to submit or yield.
1738. Pope, Universal Prayer, iii. Who … binding Nature fast in Fate, Left free the Human Will.
1848. R. I. Wilberforce, Doctr. Incarnation, iv. (1852), 80. In our Lord, first of all descendants of Adam, was will exhibited in that complete freedom, which was its normal condition and perfect state.
1880. Goldw. Smith, in Atlantic Monthly, Feb., 203/2. The spring of all existence, and so of evil, is will, which Schopenhauer erects into a universal substance, apart from intelligence and consciousness.
b. With qualification, in reference to individual character; idiomatically in a will of one’s own, implying a strong or self-assertive will, and hence used as a euphemism for ‘wilfulness.’
c. 1470. Golagros & Gaw., 100. Schir Kay wes haisty and hate, and of ane hie will.
1752. Mrs. Lennox, Female Quix., I. xi. Since I am not allowed any will of my own,… it matters not whether I am pleased or displeased.
1760. Foote, Minor, I. i. Was Charlotte to set up a will of her own,… she must expect to share the fate of her sister.
1798. S. & Ht. Lee, Canterb. T., Young Lady’s T., II. 341. If once she could be brought to assert a will of her own.
1907. Verney Mem., I. 422. A girl of high spirit and strong will.
7. Intention or determination that something shall be done by another or others, or shall happen or take place; (contextually) an expression or embodiment of such intention or determination, an order, command, injunction (cf. 3 b). Also fig.
Formerly freq. in the ejaculations (By) God’s will, occas. ’ods my will (Shaks., A. Y. L., IV. iii. 17): see GOD sb. 14 a.
Beowulf, 1739. Him eal worold wendeð on willan.
835. in Birch, Cartul. Sax. (1885), I. 575. Ic Abba ʓeroefa Cyðe & writan hate hu min willa is þæt mon ymb min ærfe ʓedoe æfter minum dæʓe.
c. 1000. Ags. Gosp., Matt. vi. 10. Ʒewurþe ðin willa on eorðan, swa swa on heofonum.
c. 1175. Lamb. Hom., 21. We suneȝiet on-ȝein drihtenes welle ofter þene we scolde.
c. 1200. Ormin, 2381 All ȝho leȝȝde þatt o Godd & onn hiss lefe wille.
a. 1250. Prov. Ælfred, 399, in O. E. Misc., 126. Bute if we wurcheþ wyllen cristes.
a. 1300. Cursor M., 12322. Sco … duted noght, Þat godds wil ne suld be wroght.
c. 1380. Wyclif, Sel. Wks., II. 55. Al þing þat shal come moot nedis come bi Goddis wille.
1390. Gower, Conf., I. 48. Mi will is ferst that thou be schrive.
c. 1450. Holland, Howlat, 874. I wait ȝour will, and quhat way ȝe wald that I wrocht.
1464–5. in Acts Parlt. Scot. (1874), XII. 31/1. Thai … sall … entire þe kingis ward and there abide Enduring þe kingis will.
1543–4. Act 35 Hen. VIII., c. 1 § 1. It is the onlye pleasure and will of Almightie God howe longe his Highnes … shall lyve.
1558. in J. M. Stone, Hist. Mary I. (1901), App. 518. My mynd and will ys, that the said Codicell shall be accepted.
1601. Shaks., All’s Well, II. iv. 56. In euery thing I waite vpon his will. Ibid. (1603), Meas. for M., II. ii. 7. Is it your will Claudio shall die to morrow?
1667. Milton, P. L., II. 1025. Such was the will of Heav’n.
1711. Steele, Spect., No. 96, ¶ 2. It was the Will of Providence that Master Harry was taken very ill of a Fever.
1756. C. Lucas, Ess. Waters, II. 144. They are all … dependent on the will of the magistrate.
1833. Tennyson, Dream Fair Wom., lix. It comforts me in this one thought to dwell, That I subdued me to my father’s will.
1841. Myers, Cath. Th., III. § 1. The Books commonly called The Bible contain special Revelations of the Will of God.
1842. Tennyson, Dora, 43. My will is law.
1888. Bryce, Amer. Commw., xcvii. III. 36. This method of consulting the popular will.
† b. Consent, acquiescence, permission, favor, good will. Obs.
a. 1300. Cursor M., 199. Wit crist will þan sal I telle How he siþen hared helle.
c. 1440. Gesta Rom., xxxviii. 154. In so moche þat he wanne ther by the wille & the love of Eueri man.
c. 1450. Godstow Reg., 362. With the wille and graunte of Raaf his sone and heire.
1535. Coverdale, Jer. xliv. 19. Did we … poure vnto her drinkofferinges, to do her seruyce, without oure huszbondes wylles?
c. Intent, purport (of a document; cf. 23); also, in Sc. Law, a clause in a summons expressing a royal command (see quot. 1684).
1439. in Ancestor (1904), July, 18. Aftir that the will of my testament be fulfilled and my dettes paid.
1684. Sir G. Mackenzie, Inst. Law Scot., IV. i. (1694), 236. The King in his Summons says, Our will is, &c. that ye cite such and such Persons, &c which is called the Will of the Summons, and which Will of the Summons does comprehend a Command to the Messengers to cite the Defenders.
1743. Kames, Decis. Crt. Sess. 1730–52 (1799), 67. It was necessary for the suspender to follow out the will of the letters.
8. Qualified by possessive, esp. in such phr. as † if his will be, if it be his will (= if it be his good pleasure) and as obj. of do, work, or the like: That which one wills should be done; (one’s) ‘pleasure.’
c. 825. Vesp. Psalter, xxxix. 9 [xl. 8]. Ðæt ic doe willan ðinne, god.
971. Blickl. Hom., 205. To secenne hwæt þæs willa sie.
a. 1000. Menologium, 201. Sancta symbel þara þe sið oððe ær worhtan in worulde willan drihtnes.
a. 1122. O. E. Chron. (Laud MS.), an. 1085. Ʒebete hit God elmihtiʓa þonne his willa sy.
c. 1175. Lamb. Hom., 121. Ȝif hit his willa nere, ne mahte him nan deð ne nan pine derian.
c. 1205. Lay., 2793. & euer ælc wilde mon hefde al his wil to don.
c. 1220. Bestiary, 41. Ðo ure driȝten ded was, And doluen, also his wille was.
a. 1300. Cursor M., 407. Þe sex dais he wroght þat was his will. Ibid., 1229. To wrik þare wik[ke] wil þai thoght.
13[?]. K. Horn, 201 (Harl. MS.). Ah ȝef hit is þi wille Help vs þat we ne spille.
c. 1400. Rule St. Benet (prose), 10. Ye sal leue yure ahen propir will, and do oþir mens.
c. 1420. Avow. Arth., xxxiii. Bothe my dethe and my lyfe, Is inne the wille of thi wife.
c. 1420. Anturs of Arth., 197. One þing wold I wite, if þi wil ware.
1535. Coverdale, Ps. xxvi[i]. 12. Delyuer me not in to the wylles of myne aduersaries.
1542. Udall, Erasm. Apoph., 295. The stronger must bee obeyed & haue his wille.
1590. Lodge, Rosalynde (1592), O 2 b. Shall I then haue … no comfort, but bee posted off to the will of time?
1607. Shaks., Cor., IV. iv. 7. Direct me, if it be your will, where great Auffidius lies: Is he in Antium?
1765. Gray, Shakespeare, 13. If then he wreak on me his wicked will.
1818. Scott, Br. Lamm., xii. If it’s your wull, I’ll just tak a step as far as Dunse.
1865. Ruskin, Sesame, ii. § 90. Leaving misrule and violence to work their will among men.
† 9. Undue assertion of one’s own will; wilfulness, self-will. Obs.
c. 1175. Lamb. Hom., 9. Ȝif hwa is swa sunful … þet nulle … for his fule heorte wil his scrift ihalden.
c. 1325. Spec. Gy Warw., 169. Þat þurw here pride and here wil Þeih fallen ofte in gret peril.
1362. Langl., P. Pl., A. VI. 77. Alle þe walles beþ of wit to holde wil þeroute.
1401. 26 Pol. Poems, iii. 38. By witles wille þey gedre pres.
a. 1500. Ratis Raving, 1562. With wyll and ȝouthed duellis hee.
1546. J. Heywood, Prov., I. xi. (1867), 28. Wyll wyll haue wyll, though will wo wyn.
a. 1568. Ascham, Scholem., I. (Arb.), 48. Lyinge, pickinge, slouthe, will, stubburnnesse.
1615. J. Taylor (Water P.), Urania, xli. B 8. When hare-braind Will, o’re Wit doth rule & raigne.
† b. A piece of wilfulness, a whim. Obs. rare.
1619. Purchas, Microcosmus, lxii. 623. Shall Christians lose … the Hopes of Heauen … for a Will, for a Humour, for malicious Spight?
III. Special uses and phrases.
† 10. gen. sing. willes, etc., as adv. (or in advb. phr.) or predicative adj. Obs. a. simply (also in phr. willes and woldes: see WIELD sb. 1 b), or with poss. pron.: Of one’s own will; voluntarily; intentionally, purposely. (Cf. SELFWILLES.)
c. 960. Æthelwold, St. Benet, 28. Ʒeneadod to anre mile gange, gang willes twa.
c. 1000. in Thorpe, Laws (1840), II. 180. Be þam men ðe willes man ofslihð.
c. 1380. Sir Ferumb., 221. Wilt þu silf willes lete þe slen þy purpos ne preyse y noȝt.
c. 1386. Chaucer, Wife’s Prol., 272 (Harl. MS.). Thing þat no man wol, his willes, holde.
c. 1450. Mirk’s Festial, 174. I am a fende of helle and wold not knele on noþyr kne my wylles, but I am made to do so aȝen my wylle.
b. with poss. pron.: According to one’s choice or desire, as one will: used pred. with impers. vb. to be, in such phrases as if your willes is = if you will, if you please, if please, if you wish.
a. 1300. Cursor M., 1406. Inogh now liued haue .i., Þou tak mi saul out of þe flexs And do it ware þi wils [Gött. willes] es. Ibid., 10094. He moght do quat his wils [Gött. willis] was.
1375. Barbour, Bruce, I. 618. Giff that ȝour willis wer, Ic ask ȝow respyt for to se This lettir.
c. 1450. Holland, Howlat, 312. Ȝe sall heir in schort space Quhat worthy lordis thar was, Gif your willis war.
c. 1475. Rauf Coilȝear, 502. I wait not quhat his willis be.
c. as predicative adj.: Voluntary.
a. 1225. Ancr. R., 302. Schrift schal beon … dredful, & hopeful, wis, soð & willes.
** with qualifying adjs.
11. a. Good will, ill will (with various shades of meaning: cf. 1, 5–7): see GOODWILL, ILL WILL. So, with the comparative, † better will = ‘more goodwill’; † evil will = ILL WILL.
1338. R. Brunne, Chron. (1810), 237. To Leulyn forgaf he alle his euelle wille.
1357. Lay Folks’ Catech. (T.), 565. To gif yhou better will for to kun tham.
1461. Paston Lett., II. 48. Because of such tales, your tenants owe hym the bettir will.
c. 1482. Cely Papers (Camden), 131. I wrote not so unto yow for no spyte nedor for no hewell well that I have to yow.
1560. Daus, trans. Sleidane’s Comm., 35 b. He dyd so, of no euill wyll or contempte.
1621. Bp. Mountagu, Diatribæ, 388. All such as haue an euil will to Sion.
b. With the best will (in the world).
1857. B. Taylor, Northern Trav., xxxii. (1858), 333. With the best will we found it impossible to eat anything. Ibid., xxxiii. 344. All that the old woman, with the best will in the world, was able to furnish, was milk, butter, [etc.].
c. See FREE WILL.
*** with prepositions.
a. 1250. Owl & Night., 1722. Heo [sc. the wren] hadde gode þrote & schille & fale monne song a wille [v.r. awille].
† b. At command or disposal. Obs.
c. 1430. Chev. Assigne, 79. Bothe howndes & men haue hadde þe a wylle.
† 13. After (one’s) will [AFTER prep. 13, 15]: according to one’s choice or intention, as one will; according to one’s wish or liking, as one desires.
c. 1205. Lay., 31650. And longe hit walden after heore willen.
c. 1290. St. Brendan, 109, in S. Eng. Leg., 223. Þe see drof here schip after wil.
a. 1300. Cursor M., 15793. O þe forel a suerd he drogh, þe ere he smat of an; For had it ben efter his wil, he wald him fain ha slan.
14. Against († again) one’s will [AGAINST 10, AGAIN B. 7]: in opposition to (one’s own) inclination or liking, unwillingly (rarely, against one’s purpose, unintentionally); opposition to (another’s) choice, intention or desire.
c. 1400. Maundev. (Roxb.), xviii. 85. He schall noȝt be brynt with hir agayne his will.
c. 1400. Pilgr. Sowle (Caxton, 1483), IV. xx. 68. Thou hast byreued me Ageyne my wyll, no thyng with myn assent.
c. 1450. [see 10 a].
1512. Act 4 Hen. VIII., c. 20. Preamble, The said John … fortuned to be slayn … ayenst the will and mynde of your seid Besecher.
1559. Mirr. Mag. Dk. Suffolk, xxii. King and queene were forst against their willes.
1605. Shaks., Lear, I. iv. 116. This fellow ha’s banish’d two on’s Daughters, and did the third a blessing against his will.
1639. J. Clarke, Parœm., 29. He is willing sore against his will.
1678. Butler, Hud., III. III. 547. He that complies against his Will, Is of his own Opinion still.
1784. Cowper, Task, VI. 520. His steed Declined the death, and wheeling swiftly round,… Baffled his rider, saved against his will.
1845. M’Culloch, Taxation, I. (1852), 38. The Grand Seignior cannot do a more absolute act than to order a man to be dragged away from his family, and, against his will, run his head against the mouth of a cannon.
15. At (one’s) will. a. According to one’s volition or choice; as (when, where) one will. † occas., Of one’s own free will, voluntarily.
(a) with possessive: at his, your, God’s (etc.) will.
a. 1300. Cursor M., 6136. Ma sacrifice your lauerd vntill, Quar yee wil at your aun will.
c. 1325. Spec. Gy Warw., 19. Al at his wille he wole þe lede.
1389. in Engl. Gilds (1870), 30. Qwo-so schal ben escused for any oyer schyl, it schal ben at ye aldermannes wyl.
c. 1430. Syr Tryam., 257. At Goddys wylle muste hyt bene.
1570. T. Norton, trans. Nowell’s Catech., 67 b. God alone is able at his owne will to geue what soeuer he hath appointed.
1601. Shaks., Jul. C., II. i. 17. We put a Sting in him, That at his will he may doe danger with.
a. 1721. Prior, Songs, xiii. 4. Enjoying sweetest liberty, And roving at my will.
1802, 1873. [see SWEET a. 8 d].
(b) simply: at will.
13[?]. Cursor M., 19324 (Gött.). Na strinth did þai þaim till, For þai come wid þaim all at will.
c. 1400. 26 Pol. Poems, x. 4. For pride hem þenkeþ goddis pere, Þat welde þis worldis wele at wylle.
c. 1470. Golagros & Gaw., 253. Al thai that ar wrocht vndir the hie hevin Micht nocht warne thame at wil to ische nor entre.
1579. Spenser, Sheph. Cal., Sept., 144. They wander at wil, and stray at pleasure.
1607. Shaks., Cor., I. vi. 39. Holding Corioles in the name of Rome, Euen like a fawning Grey-hound in the Leash, To let him slip at will.
1615. R. Cocks, Diary (Hakl. Soc.), I. 42. [He] geveth out that he is not the Companies servant, but at will.
1667. Milton, P. L., V. 295. Nature here Wantond as in her prime, and plaid at will Her Virgin Fancies. Ibid. (1671), P. R., IV. 269. The famous Orators … whose resistless eloquence Wielded at will that fierce Democratie.
1825. Wordsw., To a Skylark, 5. Thy nest which thou canst drop into at will.
1871. R. H. Hutton, Ess., I. 47. The only test we have of the truth of scientific hypothesis is the degree of aid it gives us in representing to ourselves at will the facts of the universe.
1888. F. H. Bradley, in Mind, Jan., 27. And if we think of various sensations in parts of our bodies we can produce them at will.
b. In readiness to be dealt with as one will; at one’s command or disposal.
13[?]. Gaw. & Gr. Knt., 836. Al is yowre awen, to haue at yowre wylle & welde.
1387–8. T. Usk, Test. Love, III. viii. (Skeat), l. 5. Sithen her restinge-place is now so nygh at my wil.
c. 1400. Parce Michi, 165, in 26 Pol. Poems, 147. Whyle I had my streyngth at wyll, fful many a man I dyd vnreste.
c. 1440. Generydes, 33. Whenne he lyste she was all atte his wille.
1577. Googe, Heresbach’s Husb., I. 7. With wealth yenough and pastures wyde at wyll.
1604. Shaks., Oth., II. i. 150. She that was euer faire, and neuer proud, Had Tongue at will, and yet was neuer loud. Ibid. (1611), Cymb., IV. iii. 13. Sir, my life is yours, I humbly set it at your will.
1667. Milton, P. L., V. 377. These mid-hours, till Eevning rise I have at will.
1784. Cowper, Task, II. 202. What is his creation less Than a capacious reservoir of means Formed for his use, and ready at his will?
1913. M. Roberts, Salt of Sea, ix. 218. At sunset the wind failed and left me at the will of the tides.
† c. According to one’s desire, as one wishes or likes; esp. (pred. or compl.) of wind or weather, Favorable. Obs.
a. 1300. Cursor M., 2243. Quen þai at wil had festend grund Þe wark þai raised in a stund.
1340–70. Alex. & Dind., 1. Whan þis weith at his wil weduring hadde.
c. 1400. Rule St. Benet (verse), 492. All þat nedes ȝou vntill Sal ȝe haue at ȝour awne wyll.
c. 1425. Wyntoun, Cron., II. viii. 710. Þai tuk wp sayl and past in hy Withe wynde at wil to Brigancy.
a. 1533. Ld. Berners, Gold. Bk. M. Aurel. (1546), E vj b. Thus haue ye had the goddes at wyl.
1579. T. Stevens, in Hakluyt, Voy. (1589), 161. Our Pilot … thinking himselfe to haue wind at will.
1825. Jamieson, s.v., At a’ will, to the utmost extent of one’s inclination or desire.
d. In reference to an estate held during the owner’s or lessor’s pleasure, from which the tenant may be ousted at any time: chiefly in phr. estate, tenant, etc., at will.
1452. Rolls of Parlt., V. 217/2. Grauntes of … annuitees, made by you of estate of enheritaunce, for terme of lif, or terme of yeris, or at wille.
1589. in Trans. Cumbld. & Westmld. Antiq. Soc. (N.S.), XX. 222. Which castell … John glaisters balyfe there occupyethe at will and ought to pay yerely the said rents.
1603. G. Owen, Pembrokeshire (1892), 191. They were not tenantes at will at the Comon lawe.
1663. Butler, Hud., I. II. 1022. For we are their true Landlords still, And they our Tenants but at will.
1766. Blackstone, Comm., II. ix. 145. An estate at will is where lands and tenements are let by one man to another, to have and to hold at the will of the lessor.
1794. Vancouver, Agric. Cambr., 52. The largest farm is held at will.
1868. Rogers, Pol. Econ., xiii. (1876), 178. The customary occupation was reduced to a tenancy at will.
† 16. By one’s will: with one’s consent, or of one’s own free will, willingly; according to one’s desire, if one had one’s wish. (Cf. GOODWILL 3 b.)
c. 1393. Chaucer, Mariage, 12. I dar seyn, were he oute of his peyne, As by his wille, he wolde be bounde nevere.
c. 1400. Rom. Rose, 5728. For by her wille withoute lees Eueriche man shulde be seke.
1599. Shaks., Much Ado, III. iii. 67. Ver. You haue bin alwaies cal’d a merciful man partner. Dog. Truely I would not hang a dog by my will. Ibid. (1601), Twel. N., III. iii. 1. I would not be my will have troubled you.
17. In will. † a. With the will or intention, intending, purposing (to do something); to be (also have) in will, to intend, purpose. (Also in a will.)
a. 1300. Cursor M., 4125. All he sagh þam in a wil Þair broþer sacles for to spil. Ibid., 11525. Þai had in wil þat ilk night To torn be herods.
1303. R. Brunne, Handl. Synne, 6985. Y was yn wyl for þe feste Þat euery hadde a peny.
c. 1375. Sc. Leg. Saints, xxxiv. (Pelagia), 8. Of his mysdide hafand hert sare, In wil to mysdo nomare.
c. 1400. Gamelyn, 173. Gamelyn was in wille to wende þerto.
1513. Douglas, Æneis, IX. xii. 27. His broderis slauchtyr to revenge in wyll.
† b. To put oneself in, or to come in (a person’s) will, also to come in will to (a person): to submit oneself to his will, surrender at discretion. Sc. Obs.
c. 1430. Syr Tryam., 1009. He wylle put hym yn yowre wylle.
c. 1470. Henry, Wallace, IX. 984. Quhill tha, for hungyr sor, Cum in his will.
1560. Rec. Inverness (New Spalding Club), I. 46. The said Thom Stuert is cumin in the townis wyll, and dome gyffin thairapon.
1596. Dalrymple, trans. Leslie’s Hist. Scot. (S.T.S.), II. 218. Al the rest with Sinklar cam in wil to thame of Orknay.
a. 1670. Spalding, Troub. Chas. I. (Bannatyne Club), I. 3. The honest men … was forced to come in the earle’s will, whilk was not for their weill.
1690. Rec. Burgh Lanark (1893), 237. All quhich [offences] Nathaneell acknowledged and came in will.
1756. Pennecuik’s Coll. Sc. Poems, 108. Come in his will; Lay down the talents, or be debtor By band or bill.
18. Of (one’s) will. a. Of one’s own accord, spontaneously, voluntarily. Now only with poss. and own, e.g., ‘He did it of his own (free) will.’
c. 1374. Chaucer, Boeth., III. pr. iv. (1868), 74. Yif þat dignites wexen foule of hir wille by þe filþe of shrewes.
c. 1375. Sc. Leg. Saints, iii. (Andreas), 685. And to þe tormentoris of will He gafe þame.
c. 1400. Rom. Rose, 7441. He knewe nat that she was constrayned,… But wende she come of wyl al free.
c. 1475. Rauf Coilȝear, 541. For that I hecht of my will, And na man threit me thair till, That I am haldin to fulfill.
1825. Jamieson, s.v., O’ will, spontaneously.
† b. Of will: with the intention, on purpose (to do something). Obs.
c. 1375. Sc. Leg. Saints, xxxvi. (Baptista), 479. Nocht of resone, bot of wil A wyfis ȝarnyng til fulfil.
† 19. On will: = at will (15 c). Obs. rare.
c. 1205. Lay., 1102. Heo wunden up seiles, wind ston [= stod] an willen. Ibid., 7845. Weder heom stod on wille.
† 20. To (one’s) will: as one will, as one chooses; at one’s disposal; to one’s liking: = at will, 15 a, b, c. Obs.
a. 1300. Cursor M., 3647. It sal him sauur al to will. Ibid., 23432. O welthes mar mai na man tell, Þan haf to will o welth þe well.
a. 1400–50. Wars Alex., 301. And wild ȝour self to will, nyll he so will he.
c. 1400. Rule St. Benet (prose), 7. May þai ler at serue him to will.
c. 1430. Chev. Assigne, 181. Thenne hadde I þis londe hollye to myne wylle.
21. With (one’s) will, † a. Intentionally; willingly; voluntarily: = 16, 18. Obs.
c. 1230. [see 5].
a. 1300. Cursor M., 6673. Qua slas animan wit will.
c. 1325. Poem Times Edw. II., 431, in Pol. Songs (Camden), 343. So the fend hem prokede uch man to mourdren other wid wille.
c. 1400. Rule St. Benet (verse), 1971. When we þam resaue with wil Crist resaue we vs vntil.
1485. Caxton, Paris & V. (1868), 6. They ansuerd to them ye shal now come to hym other wyth your wylle or by force.
1513. in Ellis, Orig. Lett., Ser. III. I. 156. I see veray few … that with their wills wold go agayne to the trade.
b. With a will: with determination, resolutely, vigorously, energetically.
1848. Dickens, Dombey, l. He turned to (as he himself said) with a will.
1866. Ruskin, Crown of Wild Olive, i. 44. Work is only done well when it is done with a will.
1896. Housman, Shropsh. Lad, vii. I picked a stone and aimed it And threw it with a will.
**** 22. In allusive or proverbial phrases, e.g., in contrast with deed, esp. in to take the will for the deed; † Will is no skill (SKILL sb.1 3); Where there’s a will there’s a way (WAY sb.1 13).
13[?]. Pol. Rel. & L. Poems (1903), 251–2. Wil is wo … Wil is Red.
c. 1460. Wisdom, 221, in Macro Plays, 43. Wyll for dede oft ys take.
c. 1520. Skelton, Magnyf., 148. But haue ye not herde say that Wyll is no Skyll?
1597. Hooker, Eccl. Pol., V. lx. § 6. Where we cannot doe what is inioyned vs [God] accepteth our will to doe instead of the deede itself.
1661. Morgan, Sph. Gentry, To Rdr. b 2. The reasonable will accept the will for the deed.
1801. Lamb, Lett. to Godwin, 9 Sept. In this little scrawl you must take the will for the deed.
1842. Car. Ward, Nat. Prov., 152. Where there’s a will there’s a way.
1853. Lytton, My Novel, I. iii. Oh, sir, it is not the deed—it is the will.
a. 1865. Mrs. Gaskell, Wives & Dau., xiv. (1867), 147. We will take the will for the deed, as the common people express it.
1880. Meredith, Tragic Com., vi. ‘Two wishes make a will,’ you say.
IV. 23. A person’s formal declaration of his intention as to the disposal of his property or other matters to be performed after his death, most usually made in writing (but see NUNCUPATIVE 1, PAROL a. 1, quot. 1706); commonly transf. the document in which such intention is expressed.
Formerly properly used only in reference to the disposal of real property, thus distinguished from a testament relating to personal property; whence the phrase (now tautological, but still in formal use) last will and testament: see TESTAMENT sb. 1.
(a) qualified by last († latter obs. rare).
1387. Trevisa, Higden (Rolls), IV. 11. Þanne Alisaundre loste his speche, and wroot his laste wille.
1424, 1464, 1590, 1637. [see TESTAMENT sb. 1, 1 c].
1467. Stonor Papers (Camden), I. 94. The last wulle of the seyd Thomas Sakevyle.
1575–6. Reg. Privy Council Scot., Ser. I. II. 497. In his testament and latter will.
1768. Sterne, Sent. Journ., Fragment, Paris. He disposed every thing to make the gentleman’s last will and testament.
(b) simply.
c. 1380. Wyclif, Wks. (1880), 48. Þis testament is riȝtful wille of dede fraunseis.
1439. E. E. Wills (1882), 128. If ther be eny clause or matier in his olde will.
1463. [see TESTAMENT sb. 1].
1549. Bk. Com. Prayer, Visit. Sick, rubric, If he haue not afore disposed his goods, let him then make his will.
1595. Shaks., John, I. i. 109. Vpon his death-bed he by will bequeath’d His lands to me.
1758. Johnson, Idler, No. 29, ¶ 9. She threw her will into the fire.
1766. Blackstone, Comm., II. xxxii. 496. Every person hath full power and liberty to make a will, that is not under some special prohibition by law or custom.
1818. Cruise, Digest (ed. 2), VI. 61. Where a will is written on several sheets of paper, it is the usual practice for the testator to sign each of them.
1827. Jarman, Powell’s Devises (ed. 3), II. 11. A will of real estate, wherever it be made, or in whatever language it be written.
1858. Bright, Sp., Reform, 27 Oct. (1868), II. 10. If it [sc. landed property] were left to him by will,… it paid no legacy duty.
fig. 1719. De Foe, Crusoe (Globe), 180. A most monstrous … He-goat,… making his Will, as we say, and gasping for Life, and dying indeed of meer old Age.
b. = TESTAMENT sb. 5 a. ? nonce-use.
[c. 1570. Latimer’s Protest., in Strype, Eccl. Mem. (1721), III. App. xxxiv. 91. If God wolde have had a newe kynde of sacrificynge preste … then he, or some of his Apostles, wolde have made some mention therof in their master Christ’s will.]
a. 1893. J. Paul, in R. Ford, Harp Perthsh., 364.
| A tawny tattered leaf atween the Auld Will an’ the New | |
| Contains the family register, wi’ care an’ rev’rence due. |
V. 24. attrib. and Comb. a. Simple attrib., as will-force, -power, -spirit. b. Objective, instrumental and locative, as will-commanding adj., (in sense 23) -maker, -making; will-fraught, -strong adjs. c. Special Combs.: will-fire (see quot.); † will government, arbitrary or autocratic government; will-office, an office in which wills of deceased persons are kept; † will-wisdom, wisdom depending on one’s will or fancy without divine influence; † will-work, a work performed by the human will, without divine grace (cf. WILL-WORSHIP).
a. 1644. Quarles, Sol. Recant., solil. VI. 62. This *will-commanding Saint.
1826. Monthly Rev., 24 June, 399/2. The fuel was ignited by *will-fire, that is, fire obtained by friction.
1886. W. Wallace, in Encycl. Brit., XXI. 451/1. The *will-force operating in all is the same.
1649. Howel, Pre-em. Parlt., 5. Tyrannical Rule, and unbounded *Wil government.
1880. Disraeli, Endym., vi. Events … which alike consigned the will and the *will-maker to oblivion.
1828. Lytton, Pelham, xxvii. A thing of state and solemnity—long faces—early rising—and *will-making.
1672. Wood, Life (O.H.S.), II. 243. This journey was taken to London by A. W. purposely to peruse the *Will-Office then in or neare Exeter-house.
1874. Hopps, Relig. Moral., xiv. 44. The drunkard … whose *will-power and whose moral force have been conquered by degraded appetite.
1899. Allbutt’s Syst. Med., VIII. 315. Insanity of doubt, due to loss of will-power.
a. 1761. Law, Comf. Weary Pilgr. (1809), 11. Whilst your *will-spirit is good … the changes of creaturely fervour lessen not your union with God.
1654. Gataker, Disc. Apol., 73. His *Will-strong Objector.
1866. Whipple, Char. & Charac. Men, 322. No opinionated, will-strong, untamable passion.
1647. Trapp, Comm. Rev. xiii. 18. Humane inventions and *will-wisdome.
1538. Bale, God’s Promises, VII. E iv. In hys onlye deathe was mannys lyfe alwayes restynge, And not in *wyll workes.
1580. Vautroullier, Luther on Ep. Gal., 85. They take from him ye power both to iustifie and saue, and geue ye same to their owne wilworks.
