Obs. Also 4 willenyng. [OE. wilnung, f. wilnian: see above and -ING1 1.] Desire.
c. 888. Ælfred, Boeth., xxxiii. § 5. Twa þara ʓecynda habbað netenu swa same swa men; oðer þara is wilnung, oðer is irsung.
a. 1225. Ancr. R., 278. Prude is wilnunge of wurðschipe.
13[?]. Gaw. & Gr. Knt., 1546. I wolde yowre wylnyng worche at my myȝt.
c. 1350. Will. Palerne, 3983. To willne swiche willenyng þat wol nouȝt a-sente.
1357. Lay Folks’ Catech. (T.), 506. A wrangwise wilnyng Or yernyng to hafe any kyns gode that us augh noght.
c. 1449. Pecock, Repr., V. ix. 533. With the lasse good kunnyng, the lasse gode wilnyngis, and purposis.
So † Wilning ppl. a., voluntary; also quasi-advb.; whence † Wilningly adv., willingly.
The survival of the vb. wilne in wilningly, if genuine, is remarkable.
a. 1225. Ancr. R., 182. Vorte beon martirs efning, þuruh a wilninde wo.
1382. Wyclif, Num. xxxv. 15. To hem, the which not wilnynge [1388 wilfuli; Vulg. nolens] shedith blood. Ibid., Ecclus. xiv. 7. Vnwitendely, and not wilnende [1388 not wilfuli; Vulg. ignoranter et non volens] he doth.
1597. Return fr. Parnass., II. i. 618 (MS. Rawl. D. 398, lf. 211 b). We haue yelded to her conqueringe hande And wilninglie goe captiues in her bande.
