Will noun [ Middle English wille , Anglo-Saxon willa ; akin to OFries. willa , Old Saxon willeo , willio , D. wil , German wille , Icelandic vili , Danish villie , Swedish vilja , Goth wilja . See Will , v. ]

1. The power of choosing; the faculty or endowment of the soul by which it is capable of choosing; the faculty or power of the mind by which we decide to do or not to do; the power or faculty of preferring or selecting one of two or more objects.

It is necessary to form a distinct notion of what is meant by the word "volition" in order to understand the import of the word will , for this last word expresses the power of mind of which "volition" is the act.

Stewart.

Will is an ambiguous word, being sometimes put for the faculty of willing; sometimes for the act of that faculty, besides [ having] other meanings. But "volition" always signifies the act of willing, and nothing else.

Reid.

Appetite is the will's solicitor, and the will is appetite's controller; what we covet according to the one, by the other we often reject.

Hooker.

The will is plainly that by which the mind chooses anything.

J. Edwards.

2. The choice which is made; a determination or preference which results from the act or exercise of the power of choice; a volition.

The word "will," however, is not always used in this its proper acceptation, but is frequently substituted for "volition", as when I say that my hand mover in obedience to my will .

Stewart.

3. The choice or determination of one who has authority; a decree; a command; discretionary pleasure.

Thy will be done.

Matt. vi. 10.

Our prayers should be according to the will of God.

Law.

4. Strong wish or inclination; desire; purpose.

» " Inclination is another word with which will is frequently confounded. Thus, when the apothecary says, in Romeo and Juliet, --

My poverty, but not my will , consents; . . .
Put this in any liquid thing you will,
And drink it off.

the word will is plainly used as, synonymous with inclination ; not in the strict logical sense, as the immediate antecedent of action. It is with the same latitude that the word is used in common conversation, when we speak of doing a thing which duty prescribes, against one's own will ; or when we speak of doing a thing willingly or unwillingly ." Stewart.

5. That which is strongly wished or desired.

What's your will , good friar?

Shak.

The mariner hath his will .

Coleridge.

6. Arbitrary disposal; power to control, dispose, or determine.

Deliver me not over unto the will of mine enemies.

Ps. xxvii. 12.

7. (Law) The legal declaration of a person's mind as to the manner in which he would have his property or estate disposed of after his death; the written instrument, legally executed, by which a man makes disposition of his estate, to take effect after his death; testament; devise. See the Note under Testament , 1.

» Wills are written or nuncupative , that is, oral. See Nuncupative will , under Nuncupative .

At will (Law) , at pleasure. To hold an estate at the will of another, is to enjoy the possession at his pleasure, and be liable to be ousted at any time by the lessor or proprietor. An estate at will is at the will of both parties. - - Good will . See under Good . -- Ill will , enmity; unfriendliness; malevolence. - - To have one's will , to obtain what is desired; to do what one pleases. -- Will worship , worship according to the dictates of the will or fancy; formal worship. [ Obsolete] -- Will worshiper , one who offers will worship. [ Obsolete] Jer. Taylor. -- With a will , with willingness and zeal; with all one's heart or strength; earnestly; heartily.

Will transitive verb & auxiliary. [ imperfect Would . Indic. present, I will (Obsolete I wol ), thou wilt , he will (Obsolete he wol ); we, ye, they will .] [ Middle English willen , imperfect wolde ; akin to Old Saxon willan , OFries. willa , Dutch willen , German wollen , Old High German wollan , wellan , Icelandic & Swedish vilja , Danish ville , Goth. wiljan , OSlav. voliti , Latin velle to wish, volo I wish; confer Sanskrit vr to choose, to prefer. Confer Voluntary , Welcome , Well , adverb ]

1. To wish; to desire; to incline to have.

A wife as of herself no thing ne sholde [ should]
Wille in effect, but as her husband wolde [ would].

Chaucer.

Caleb said unto her, What will thou ?

Judg. i. 14.

They would none of my counsel.

Prointransitive verb 30.

2. As an auxiliary, will is used to denote futurity dependent on the verb. Thus, in first person, "I will " denotes willingness, consent, promise; and when "will" is emphasized, it denotes determination or fixed purpose; as, I will go if you wish; I will go at all hazards. In the second and third persons, the idea of distinct volition, wish, or purpose is evanescent, and simple certainty is appropriately expressed; as, "You will go," or "He will go," describes a future event as a fact only. To emphasize will denotes (according to the tone or context) certain futurity or fixed determination.

» Will , auxiliary, may be used elliptically for will go . " I'll to her lodgings." Marlowe.

» As in shall (which see), the second and third persons may be virtually converted into the first, either by question or indirect statement, so as to receive the meaning which belongs to will in that person; thus, " Will you go?" (answer, "I will go") asks assent, requests, etc.; while " Will he go?" simply inquires concerning futurity; thus, also,"He says or thinks he will go," "You say or think you will go," both signify willingness or consent.

» Would , as the preterit of will , is chiefly employed in conditional, subjunctive, or optative senses; as, he would go if he could; he could go if he would ; he said that he would go; I would fain go, but can not; I would that I were young again; and other like phrases. In the last use, the first personal pronoun is often omitted; as, would that he were here; would to Heaven that it were so; and, omitting the to in such an adjuration. " Would God I had died for thee." Would is used for both present and future time, in conditional propositions, and would have for past time; as, he would go now if he were ready; if it should rain, he would not go; he would have gone, had he been able. Would not , as also will not , signifies refusal. "He was angry, and would not go in." Luke xv. 28. Would is never a past participle.

» In Ireland, Scotland, and the United States, especially in the southern and western portions of the United States, shall and will , should and would , are often misused, as in the following examples: --

I am able to devote as much time and attention to other subjects as I will [ shall] be under the necessity of doing next winter.

Chalmers.

A countryman, telling us what he had seen, remarked that if the conflagration went on, as it was doing, we would [ should] have, as our next season's employment, the Old Town of Edinburgh to rebuild.

H. Miller.

I feel assured that I will [ shall] not have the misfortune to find conflicting views held by one so enlightened as your excellency.

J. Y. Mason.

Will intransitive verb To be willing; to be inclined or disposed; to be pleased; to wish; to desire.

And behold, there came a leper and worshiped him, saying, Lord if thou wilt , thou canst make me clean. And Jesus . . . touched him, saying, I will ; be thou clean.

Matt. viii. 2, 3.

» This word has been confused with will , intransitive verb , to choose, which, unlike this, is of the weak conjugation.

Will I, nill I , or Will ye, hill ye , or Will he, nill he , whether I, you, or he will it or not; hence, without choice; compulsorily; -- sometimes corrupted into willy nilly . "If I must take service willy nilly ." J. H. Newman. "Land for all who would till it, and reading and writing will ye, nill ye ." Lowell.

Will transitive verb [ imperfect & past participle Willed ; present participle & verbal noun Willing . Indic. present I will , thou willeth , he wills ; we, ye, they will .] [ Confer Anglo-Saxon willian . See Will , noun ]

1. To form a distinct volition of; to determine by an act of choice; to ordain; to decree. "What she will to do or say." Milton.

By all law and reason, that which the Parliament will not, is no more established in this kingdom.

Milton.

Two things he [ God] willeth , that we should be good, and that we should be happy.

Barrow.

2. To enjoin or command, as that which is determined by an act of volition; to direct; to order. [ Obsolete or R.]

They willed me say so, madam.

Shak.

Send for music,
And will the cooks to use their best of cunning
To please the palate.

Beau. & Fl.

As you go, will the lord mayor . . .
To attend our further pleasure presently.

J. Webster.

3. To give or direct the disposal of by testament; to bequeath; to devise; as, to will one's estate to a child; also, to order or direct by testament; as, he willed that his nephew should have his watch.

Will intransitive verb To exercise an act of volition; to choose; to decide; to determine; to decree.

At Winchester he lies, so himself willed .

Robert of Brunne.

He that shall turn his thoughts inward upon what passes in his own mind when he wills .

Locke.

I contend for liberty as it signifies a power in man to do as he wills or pleases.

Collins.

Will-o'-the-wisp noun See Ignis fatuus .

Willemite noun [ From Willem I., king of the Netherlands.] (Min.) A silicate of zinc, usually occurring massive and of a greenish yellow color, also in reddish crystals (troostite) containing manganese.

Willer noun One who wills.

Willet noun (Zoology) A large North American snipe ( Symphemia semipalmata ); -- called also pill-willet , will-willet , semipalmated tattler , or snipe , duck snipe , and stone curlew .

Carolina willet , the Hudsonian godwit.

Willful adjective [ Will + full .] [ Written also wilful .]

1. Of set purpose; self-determined; voluntary; as, willful murder. Foxe.

In willful poverty chose to lead his life .

Chaucer.

Thou to me
Art all things under heaven, all places thou,
Who, for my willful crime, art banished hence.

Milton.

2. Governed by the will without yielding to reason; obstinate; perverse; inflexible; stubborn; refractory; as, a willful man or horse.

-- Will"ful*ly , adverb -- Will"ful*ness , noun

Willier noun One who works at a willying machine.

Willing adjective [ From Will , transitive verb ]

1. Free to do or to grant; having the mind inclined; not opposed in mind; not choosing to refuse; disposed; not averse; desirous; consenting; complying; ready.

Felix, willing to show the Jews a pleasure, left Paul bound.

Acts xxiv. 27.

With wearied wings and willing feet.

Milton.

[ Fruit] shaken in August from the willing boughs.

Bryant.

2. Received of choice, or without reluctance; submitted to voluntarily; chosen; desired.

[ They] are held, with his melodious harmony,
In willing chains and sweet captivity.

Milton.

3. Spontaneous; self-moved. [ R.]

No spouts of blood run willing from a tree.

Dryden.

Willingly adverb In a willing manner; with free will; without reluctance; cheerfully. Chaucer.

The condition of that people is not so much to be envied as some would willingly represent it.

Addison.

Willingness noun The quality or state of being willing; free choice or consent of the will; freedom from reluctance; readiness of the mind to do or forbear.

Sweet is the love which comes with willingness .

Dryden.

Williwaw, Willywaw noun (Nautical) A whirlwind, or whirlwind squall, encountered in the Straits of Magellan. W. C. Russell.

Willock noun (Zoology) (a) The common guillemot. (b) The puffin. [ Prov. Eng.]

Willow noun [ Middle English wilowe , wilwe , Anglo-Saxon wilig , welig ; akin to OD. wilge , Dutch wilg , LG. wilge . Confer Willy .]

1. (Botany) Any tree or shrub of the genus Salix , including many species, most of which are characterized often used as an emblem of sorrow, desolation, or desertion. "A wreath of willow to show my forsaken plight." Sir W. Scott. Hence, a lover forsaken by, or having lost, the person beloved, is said to wear the willow .

And I must wear the willow garland
For him that's dead or false to me.

Campbell.

2. (Textile Manuf.) A machine in which cotton or wool is opened and cleansed by the action of long spikes projecting from a drum which revolves within a box studded with similar spikes; -- probably so called from having been originally a cylindrical cage made of willow rods, though some derive the term from winnow , as denoting the winnowing, or cleansing, action of the machine. Called also willy , twilly , twilly devil , and devil .

Almond willow , Pussy willow , Weeping willow . (Botany) See under Almond , Pussy , and Weeping . -- Willow biter (Zoology) the blue tit. [ Prov. Eng.] -- Willow fly (Zoology) , a greenish European stone fly ( Chloroperla viridis ); -- called also yellow Sally . -- Willow gall (Zoology) , a conical, scaly gall produced on willows by the larva of a small dipterous fly ( Cecidomyia strobiloides ). -- Willow grouse (Zoology) , the white ptarmigan. See ptarmigan . -- Willow lark (Zoology) , the sedge warbler. [ Prov. Eng.] -- Willow ptarmigan (Zoology) (a) The European reed bunting, or black-headed bunting. See under Reed . (b) A sparrow ( Passer salicicolus ) native of Asia, Africa, and Southern Europe. -- Willow tea , the prepared leaves of a species of willow largely grown in the neighborhood of Shanghai, extensively used by the poorer classes of Chinese as a substitute for tea. McElrath. -- Willow thrush (Zoology) , a variety of the veery, or Wilson's thrush. See Veery . -- Willow warbler (Zoology) , a very small European warbler ( Phylloscopus trochilus ); -- called also bee bird , haybird , golden wren , pettychaps , sweet William , Tom Thumb , and willow wren .

Willow transitive verb To open and cleanse, as cotton, flax, or wool, by means of a willow. See Willow , noun , 2.

Willow-herb noun (Botany) A perennial herb ( Epilobium spicatum ) with narrow willowlike leaves and showy rose-purple flowers. The name is sometimes made to include other species of the same genus.

Spiked willow-herb , a perennial herb ( Lythrum Salicaria ) with willowy leaves and spiked purplish flowers.

Willow-thorn noun (Botany) A thorny European shrub ( Hippophaë rhamnoides ) resembling a willow.

Willow-weed noun (Botany) (a) A European species of loosestrife ( Lysimachia vulgaris ). (b) Any kind of Polygonum with willowlike foliage.

Willow-wort noun (Botany) (a) Same as Willow-weed . (b) Any plant of the order Salicaceæ , or the Willow family.

Willowed adjective Abounding with willows; containing willows; covered or overgrown with willows. " Willowed meads." Collins.

Willower noun A willow. See Willow , noun , 2.

Willowish adjective Having the color of the willow; resembling the willow; willowy. Walton.

Willowy adjective
1. Abounding with willows.

Where willowy Camus lingers with delight.

Gray.

2. Resembling a willow; pliant; flexible; pendent; drooping; graceful.

Willsome adjective [ Written also wilsome .]
1. Willful; obstinate. [ Obsolete]

2. Fat; indolent. [ Prov. Eng.] Halliwell.

3. Doubtful; uncertain. [ Prov. Eng.] Halliwell.

-- Will"some*ness , noun [ Obsolete]

Willy noun [ Confer Willow .]

1. A large wicker basket. [ Prov. Eng.] Halliwell.

2. (Textile Manuf.) Same as 1st Willow , 2.

Willy nilly See Will I, nill I , etc., under 3d Will .

Willying noun The process of cleansing wool, cotton, or the like, with a willy, or willow.

Willying machine . Same as 1st Willow , 2.

Wilne transitive verb [ Anglo-Saxon wilnian .] To wish; to desire. [ Obsolete] "He willneth no destruction." Chaucer.

Wilt 2d pers. sing. of Will .

Wilt intransitive verb [ imperfect & past participle Wilting .] [ Written also welt , a modification of welk .] To begin to wither; to lose freshness and become flaccid, as a plant when exposed when exposed to drought, or to great heat in a dry day, or when separated from its root; to droop;. to wither. [ Prov. Eng. & U. S.]

Wilt transitive verb
1. To cause to begin to wither; to make flaccid, as a green plant. [ Prov. Eng. U. S.]

2. Hence, to cause to languish; to depress or destroy the vigor and energy of. [ Prov. Eng. & U. S.]

Despots have wilted the human race into sloth and imbecility.

Dr. T. Dwight.

Wilton carpet A kind of carpet woven with loops like the Brussels, but differing from it in having the loops cut so as to form an elastic velvet pile; -- so called because made originally at Wilton , England.

Wilwe noun Willow. [ Obsolete] Chaucer.

Wily adjective [ Compar. Wilier ; superl. Wiliest .] [ From Wile .] Full of wiles, tricks, or stratagems; using craft or stratagem to accomplish a purpose; mischievously artful; subtle. " Wily and wise." Chaucer. "The wily snake." Milton.

This false, wily , doubling disposition of mind.

South.

Syn. -- Cunning; artful; sly; crafty. See Cunning .

Wimble noun [ Middle English wimbil ; akin to Danish vimmel , OD. wemelen to bore. Confer Gimlet .] An instrument for boring holes, turned by a handle. Specifically: (a) A gimlet. " It is but like the little wimble , to let in the greater auger." Selden. (b) A stonecutter's brace for boring holes in stone. (c) An auger used for boring in earth.

Wimble transitive verb [ imperfect & past participle Wimbled ; present participle & verbal noun Wimbling .] To bore or pierce, as with a wimble. "A foot soldier . . . wimbled also a hole through said coffin." Wood.

Wimble adjective [ Confer Swedish vimmel kantig giddy, whimsical, dial. Swedish vimmla to be giddy or skittish, and English whim .] Active; nimble. [ Obsolete] Spenser.

Wimbrel noun (Zoology) The whimbrel.

Wimple noun [ Middle English wimpel , Anglo-Saxon winpel ; akin to D. & German wimpel a pennant, streamer, Old High German wimpal a veil, Icelandic vimpill , Dan. & Swedish vimpel a pennant, streamer; of uncertain origin. Confer Gimp .]

1. A covering of silk, linen, or other material, for the neck and chin, formerly worn by women as an outdoor protection, and still retained in the dress of nuns.

Full seemly her wympel ipinched is.

Chaucer.

For she had laid her mournful stole aside,
And widowlike sad wimple thrown away.

Spenser.

Then Vivian rose,
And from her brown-locked head the wimple throws.

M. Arnold.

2. A flag or streamer. Weale.

Wimple transitive verb [ imperfect & past participle Wimpled ; present participle & verbal noun Wimpling .]

1. To clothe with a wimple; to cover, as with a veil; hence, to hoodwink. "She sat ywympled well." Chaucer.

This wimpled , whining, purblind, wayward boy.

Shak.

2. To draw down, as a veil; to lay in folds or plaits, as a veil.

3. To cause to appear as if laid in folds or plaits; to cause to ripple or undulate; as, the wind wimples the surface of water.

Wimple intransitive verb To lie in folds; also, to appear as if laid in folds or plaits; to ripple; to undulate. " Wimpling waves." Longfellow.

For with a veil, that wimpled everywhere,
Her head and face was hid.

Spenser.

With me through . . . meadows stray,
Where wimpling waters make their way.

Ramsay.

Win transitive verb [ imperfect & past participle Won , Obsolete Wan ; present participle & verbal noun Winning .] [ Middle English winnen , Anglo-Saxon winnan to strive, labor, fight, endure; akin to OFries. winna , Old Saxon winnan , Dutch winnen to win, gain, G. ge winnen , Old High German winnan to strive, struggle, Icelandic vinna to labor, suffer, win, Danish vinde to win, Swedish vinna , Goth. winnan to suffer, Sanskrit van to wish, get, gain, conquer. √138. Confer Venerate , Winsome , Wish , Wont , adjective ]

1. To gain by superiority in competition or contest; to obtain by victory over competitors or rivals; as, to win the prize in a gate; to win money; to win a battle, or to win a country. "This city for to win ." Chaucer. "Who thus shall Canaan win ." Milton.

Thy well-breathed horse
Impels the flying car, and wins the course.

Dryden.

2. To allure to kindness; to bring to compliance; to gain or obtain, as by solicitation or courtship.

Thy virtue wan me; with virtue preserve me.

Sir P. Sidney.

She is a woman; therefore to be won .

Shak.

3. To gain over to one's side or party; to obtain the favor, friendship, or support of; to render friendly or approving; as, to win an enemy; to win a jury.

4. To come to by toil or effort; to reach; to overtake. [ Archaic]

Even in the porch he him did win .

Spenser.

And when the stony path began,
By which the naked peak they wan ,
Up flew the snowy ptarmigan.

Sir W. Scott.

5. (Mining) To extract, as ore or coal. Raymond.

Syn. -- To gain; get; procure; earn. See Gain .

Win intransitive verb To gain the victory; to be successful; to triumph; to prevail.

Nor is it aught but just
That he, who in debate of truth hath won ,
should win in arms.

Milton.

To win of , to be conqueror over. [ Obsolete] Shak. -- To win on or upon . (a) To gain favor or influence with. "You have a softness and beneficence winning on the hearts of others." Dryden. (b) To gain ground on. "The rabble . . . will in time win upon power." Shak.

Wince intransitive verb [ imperfect & past participle Winced ; present participle & verbal noun Wincing .] [ Middle English wincen , winchen , Old French quencir , guenchir , guenchier , giencier , guinchier , and (assumed) winchier , winchir , to give way, to turn aside, from Old High German wankjan , wenken , to give way, to waver, from winchan to turn aside, to nod, akin to English wink . See Wink .]

1. To shrink, as from a blow, or from pain; to flinch; to start back.

I will not stir, nor wince , nor speak a word.

Shak.

2. To kick or flounce when unsteady, or impatient at a rider; as, a horse winces .

Wince noun The act of one who winces.

Wince noun [ See Winch .] (Dyeing & Calico Printing) A reel used in dyeing, steeping, or washing cloth; a winch. It is placed over the division wall between two wince pits so as to allow the cloth to descend into either compartment. at will.

Wince pit , Wince pot , a tank or a pit where cloth in the process of dyeing or manufacture is washed, dipped in a mordant, or the like.

Wincer noun One who, or that which, winces, shrinks, or kicks.