*will*

n. [ Prob. imitative. ] (Zool.) The ring plover. [ Prov. Eng. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Of or pertaining to free will; voluntary; spontaneous; as, a freewill offering. [ 1913 Webster ]

Freewill Baptists. See under Baptist. [ 1913 Webster ]

1. A will free from improper coercion or restraint. [ 1913 Webster ]

To come thus was I not constrained, but did
On my free will. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. The power asserted of moral beings of willing or choosing without the restraints of physical or absolute necessity. [ 1913 Webster ]

See under Ill, a. [ 1913 Webster ]

. A document signed by an individual expressing his/her desire that, in the event of an illness from which there is no reasonable expectation of recovery, aggressive or extraordinary measures to prolong life, such as resuscitation and life-support equipment, should not be used. [ PJC ]

n. [ So named from its note. ] (Zool.) The willet. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ So called in imitation of its note. ] (Zool.) A bird of the Western United States (Phalænoptilus Nutalli) allied to the whip-poor-will. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ So called in imitation of its note. ] (Zool.) The bar-tailed godwit. [ Prov. Eng. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

(Zool.) A gorgonian coral with long flexible branches. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ AS. selfwill. ] One's own will, esp. when opposed to that of others; obstinacy. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Governed by one's own will; not yielding to the wishes of others; obstinate. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. Obstinacy. Sir W. Scott. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Swilled p. pr. & vb. n. Swilling. ] [ OE. swilen to wash, AS. swilian. ] 1. To wash; to drench. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

As fearfully as doth a galled rock
O'erhang and jutty his confounded base,
Swilled with the wild and wasteful ocean. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. [ Properly, to drink like a pig. See Swill, n. ] To drink in great draughts; to swallow greedily. [ 1913 Webster ]

Well-dressed people, of both sexes, . . . devouring sliced beef, and swilling pork, and punch, and cider. Smollett. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. To inebriate; to fill with drink. [ 1913 Webster ]

I should be loth
To meet the rudeness and swilled insolence
Of such late wassailers. Milton. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. i. To drink greedily or swinishly; to drink to excess. South. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. 1. The wash, or mixture of liquid substances, given to swine; hogwash; -- called also swillings. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Large draughts of liquor; drink taken in excessive quantities. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. One who swills. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. pl. See Swill, n., 1. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. (Zool.) The sanderling; -- so called from its cry. [ Prov. Eng. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Twilled p. pr. & vb. n. Twilling. ] [ Scotch tweel; probably from LG. twillen to make double, from twi- two; akin to AS. twi-, E. twi- in twilight. See Twice, and cf. Tweed, Tweel. ] To weave, as cloth, so as to produce the appearance of diagonal lines or ribs on the surface. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ Scotch tweel. See Twill, v. t. ] 1. An appearance of diagonal lines or ribs produced in textile fabrics by causing the weft threads to pass over one and under two, or over one and under three or more, warp threads, instead of over one and under the next in regular succession, as in plain weaving. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. A fabric woven with a twill. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. [ Perhaps fr. quill. ] A quill, or spool, for yarn. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ Cf. Willy. ] A machine for cleansing or loosening wool by the action of a revolving cylinder covered with long iron spikes or teeth; a willy or willying machine; -- called also twilly devil, and devil. See Devil, n., 6, and Willy. Tomlinson. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. [ 1st pref. un- + will. ] To annul or reverse by an act of the will. Longfellow. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ 1st pref. un- + will. ] Deprived of the faculty of will or volition. Mrs. Browning. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Not willing; loath; disinclined; reluctant; as, an unwilling servant. [ 1913 Webster ]

And drop at last, but in unwilling ears,
This saving counsel, “Keep your piece nine years.” Pope. [ 1913 Webster ]

-- Un*will"ing*ly, adv. -- Un*will"ing*ness, n. [ 1913 Webster ]

See obnoxious.
See observable.
See observant.
See obstructive.
See obvious.
See official.
See officious.
See oppressive.
See ordinary.
See ordinate.
See original.
See ornamental.
See orthodox.
See ostentatious.
See pacifiable.
See pacific.
See painful.
See palatable.
See parallelable.
See pardonable.
See partable.
See participant.
See passionate.
See pastoral.
See pathetic.
See patriotic.
See peaceable.
See peaceful.
See pedantic.
See perceivable.
See perceptible.
See perilous.
See permanent.
See personable.
See perspirable.
See persuadable.
See persuasive.
See philanthropic.
See philosophic.
See philosophical.
See physical.
See picturesque.
See pierceable.
See pitiful.
See plain.
See plausible.
See plausive.
See pleadable.
See pleasurable.
See pliable.
See pliant.
See plumb.
See poetic.
See poetical.
See political.
See popular.
See populous.
See portable.
See potable.
See precarious.
See precise.
See pregnant.
See prejudicate.
See prelatical.
See premeditable.
See presentable.
See preservable.
See presumptuous.
See pretentious.
See pretty.
See prevalent.
See priestly.
See primitive.
See princely.
See procurable.
See producible.
See productive.
See professional.
See profitable.
See prolific.
See pronounceable.
See prophetic.
See propitious.
See proportionable.
See proportionate.
See prosperous.
See provable.
See punctilious.
See punctual.
See punishable.
See pure.
See qualifiable.
See quenchable.
See quiet.
See rational.
See readable.
See reasonable.
See recallable.
See reclaimable.
See recognizable.
See reconcilable.
See recoverable.
See recumbent.
See reformable.
See refusable.
See regardable.
See regardant.
See relative.
See relievable.
See reluctant.
See remarkable.
See remediable.
See rememberable.
See remorseful.
See removable.
See remunerative.
See repairable.
See repealable.
See repentant.
See reprovable.
See repugnant.
See requisite.
See requitable.
See resolvable.
See respectable.
See restful.
See retentive.
See returnable.
See revengeful.
See ridable.
See ridiculous.
See rightful.
See romantic.
See rough.
See royal.
See ruinable.
See ruly.
See sacrificial.
See safe.
See sage.
See sailable.
See salable.
See sane.
See sanguine.
See sanitary.
See satisfactory.
See satisfiable.
See saturable.
See savory.
See scalable.
See scaly.
See scholarly.
See scholastic.
See scientific.
See scornful.
See scriptural.
See sculptural.
See seaworthy.
See sectarian.
See secular.
See sedentary.
See selfish.
See sentient.
See sentimental.
See serviceable.
See severe.
See shamefaced.
See shamefast.
See shapely.
See shy.
See sick.
See sicker.
See sightly.
See simple.
See sinewy.
See sizable.
See sleek.
See slumberous.
See sly.
See smooth.
See smotherable.
See smutty.
See sober.
See sociable.
See social.
See solemn.
See soliciutous.
See solvable.
See speakable.
See speedy.
See spiritual.
See spontaneous.
See sportful.
See sportsmanlike.
See statutable.
See steadfast.
See steady.
See stormy.
See stout.
See strong.
See subduable.
See subject.
See submissive.
See subordinate.
See substantial.
See successive.
See succorable.
See suggestive.
See suitable.
See sunny.
See superfluous.
See supple.
See sure.
See surpassable.
See susceptible.
See suspect.
See suspectable.
See suspicious.
See sustainable.
See sweet.
See syllogistical.
See symbolic.
See sympathetic.
See systematic.
See tamable.
See tame.
See teachable.
See technical.
See tellable.
See tenable.
See tender.
See terrestrial.
See terrific.
See thankful.
See theological.
See thinkable.
See thirsty.
See thorny.
See thoughtful.
See tidy.
See tillable.
See toothsome.
See touchable.
See traceable.
See tractable.
See tragic.
See tranquil.
See transferable.
See translatable.
See transmutable.
See transparent.
See transpassable.
See traversable.
See tremulous.
See trimphant.
See trustworthy.
See trusty.
See tumultous.
See tunable.
See uniform.
See usable.
See useful.
See vanquishable.
See variant.
See venerable.
See venomous.
See veracious.
See verdant.
See veritable.
See vigilant.
See vigorous.
See virtuous.
See vital.
See vitrifiable.
See vocal.
See voidable.
See voluptuous.
See voyageable.
See vulgar.
See walkable.
See warlike.
See watchful.
See watery.
See wealthy.
See wearable.
See weary.
See welcome.
See wet.
See wholesome.
See wieldsome.
See willful.
See wily.
See witty.
See womanly.
See workable.
See workmanlike.
See worldly.
See worshipful.
See wrathful.
See writable.
See zealous.
------ and the like.
[ 1913 Webster ]

(Bot.) An American aquatic plant (Dianthera Americana) with long willowlike leaves, and spikes of small purplish flowers. [ 1913 Webster ]

(Bot.) a tree (Salix babylonica) of the willow family with slender leaves, native to China, whose branches grow very long and slender, and hang down almost perpendicularly. It grows best where soil is moist, as by the banks of streams and is widely cultivated as an ornamental tree.
Syn. -- Babylonian weeping willow. [ PJC ]

n. One who wishes well, or means kindly. [ R. ] “A well-willer of yours.” Brydges. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. (Zool.) An American bird (Antrostomus vociferus) allied to the nighthawk and goatsucker; -- so called in imitation of the peculiar notes which it utters in the evening. [ Written also whippowil. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ OE. wille, AS. willa; akin to OFries. willa, OS. willeo, willio, D. wil, G. wille, Icel. vili, Dan. villie, Sw. vilja, Goth wilja. See Will, v. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

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. [ 1913 Webster ]

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. [ 1913 Webster ]

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. [ 1913 Webster ]

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. [ 1913 Webster ]

The will is plainly that by which the mind chooses anything. J. Edwards. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. The choice which is made; a determination or preference which results from the act or exercise of the power of choice; a volition. [ 1913 Webster ]

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. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. The choice or determination of one who has authority; a decree; a command; discretionary pleasure. [ 1913 Webster ]

Thy will be done. Matt. vi. 10. [ 1913 Webster ]

Our prayers should be according to the will of God. Law. [ 1913 Webster ]

4. Strong wish or inclination; desire; purpose. [ 1913 Webster ]

☞ “Inclination is another word with which will is frequently confounded. Thus, when the apothecary says, in Romeo and Juliet, -- [ 1913 Webster ] My poverty, but not my will, consents; . . .
Put this in any liquid thing you will,
And drink it off. [ 1913 Webster ] 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. [ 1913 Webster ]

5. That which is strongly wished or desired. [ 1913 Webster ]

What's your will, good friar? Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

The mariner hath his will. Coleridge. [ 1913 Webster ]

6. Arbitrary disposal; power to control, dispose, or determine. [ 1913 Webster ]

Deliver me not over unto the will of mine enemies. Ps. xxvii. 12. [ 1913 Webster ]

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. [ 1913 Webster ]

☞ Wills are written or nuncupative, that is, oral. See Nuncupative will, under Nuncupative. [ 1913 Webster ]

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. [ Obs. ] --
Will worshiper, one who offers will worship. [ Obs. ] Jer. Taylor. --
With a will, with willingness and zeal; with all one's heart or strength; earnestly; heartily. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. & auxiliary. [ imp. Would Indic. present, I will (Obs. I wol), thou wilt, he will (Obs. he wol); we, ye, they will. ] [ OE. willen, imp. wolde; akin to OS. willan, OFries. willa, D. willen, G. wollen, OHG. wollan, wellan, Icel. & Sw. vilja, Dan. ville, Goth. wiljan, OSlav. voliti, L. velle to wish, volo I wish; cf. Skr. v&rsdot_; to choose, to prefer. Cf. Voluntary, Welcome, Well, adv. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

1. To wish; to desire; to incline to have. [ 1913 Webster ]

A wife as of herself no thing ne sholde [ should ]
Wille in effect, but as her husband wolde [ would ]. Chaucer. [ 1913 Webster ]

Caleb said unto her, What will thou ? Judg. i. 14. [ 1913 Webster ]

They would none of my counsel. Prov. i. 30. [ 1913 Webster ]

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. [ 1913 Webster ]

☞ Will, auxiliary, may be used elliptically for will go. “I'll to her lodgings.” Marlowe. [ 1913 Webster ]

☞ 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. [ 1913 Webster ]

☞ 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. [ 1913 Webster ]

☞ 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: -- [ 1913 Webster ] 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. [ 1913 Webster ] 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. [ 1913 Webster ] 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. [ 1913 Webster ]

[ 1913 Webster ]

v. i. To be willing; to be inclined or disposed; to be pleased; to wish; to desire. [ 1913 Webster ]

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. [ 1913 Webster ]

☞ This word has been confused with will, v. i., to choose, which, unlike this, is of the weak conjugation. [ 1913 Webster ]

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; -- commonly abbreviated to 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. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Willed p. pr. & vb. n. Willing. Indic. present I will, thou willeth, he wills; we, ye, they will. ] [ Cf. AS. willian. See Will, n. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

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. [ 1913 Webster ]

By all law and reason, that which the Parliament will not, is no more established in this kingdom. Milton. [ 1913 Webster ]

Two things he [ God ] willeth, that we should be good, and that we should be happy. Barrow. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. To enjoin or command, as that which is determined by an act of volition; to direct; to order. [ Obs. or R. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

They willed me say so, madam. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

Send for music,
And will the cooks to use their best of cunning
To please the palate. Beau. & Fl. [ 1913 Webster ]

As you go, will the lord mayor . . .
To attend our further pleasure presently. J. Webster. [ 1913 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. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. i. To exercise an act of volition; to choose; to decide; to determine; to decree. [ 1913 Webster ]

At Winchester he lies, so himself willed. Robert of Brunne. [ 1913 Webster ]

He that shall turn his thoughts inward upon what passes in his own mind when he wills. Locke. [ 1913 Webster ]

I contend for liberty as it signifies a power in man to do as he wills or pleases. Collins. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ 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. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. One who wills. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. (Zool.) A large North American snipe (Symphemia semipalmata); -- called also pill-willet, will-willet, semipalmated tattler, or snipe, duck snipe, and stone curlew. [ 1913 Webster ]

Carolina willet, the Hudsonian godwit. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ Will + full. ] [ Written also wilful. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

1. Of set purpose; self-determined; voluntary; as, willful murder. Foxe. [ 1913 Webster ]

In willful poverty chose to lead his life. Chaucer. [ 1913 Webster ]

Thou to me
Art all things under heaven, all places thou,
Who, for my willful crime, art banished hence. Milton. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Governed by the will without yielding to reason; obstinate; perverse; inflexible; stubborn; refractory; as, a willful man or horse. [ 1913 Webster ]

-- Will"ful*ly, adv. -- Will"ful*ness, n. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. One who works at a willying machine. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ From Will, v. t. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

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. [ 1913 Webster ]

Felix, willing to show the Jews a pleasure, left Paul bound. Acts xxiv. 27. [ 1913 Webster ]

With wearied wings and willing feet. Milton. [ 1913 Webster ]

[ Fruit ] shaken in August from the willing boughs. Bryant. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Received of choice, or without reluctance; submitted to voluntarily; chosen; desired. [ 1913 Webster ]

[ They ] are held, with his melodious harmony,
In willing chains and sweet captivity. Milton. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. Spontaneous; self-moved. [ R. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

No spouts of blood run willing from a tree. Dryden. [ 1913 Webster ]

adv. In a willing manner; with free will; without reluctance; cheerfully. Chaucer. [ 1913 Webster ]

The condition of that people is not so much to be envied as some would willingly represent it. Addison. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. 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. [ 1913 Webster ]

Sweet is the love which comes with willingness. Dryden. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. (Zool.) (a) The common guillemot. (b) The puffin. [ Prov. Eng. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

n. See Ignis fatuus and phosphine. [ 1913 Webster + PJC ]

n. [ OE. wilowe, wilwe, AS. wilig, welig; akin to OD. wilge, D. wilg, LG. wilge. Cf. Willy. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

1. (Bot.) 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. [ 1913 Webster ]

And I must wear the willow garland
For him that's dead or false to me. Campbell. [ 1913 Webster ]

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. [ 1913 Webster ]

Almond willow,
Pussy willow,
Weeping willow. (Bot.) See under Almond, Pussy, and Weeping. --
Willow biter (Zool.) the blue tit. [ Prov. Eng. ] --
Willow fly (Zool.), a greenish European stone fly (Chloroperla viridis); -- called also yellow Sally. --
Willow gall (Zool.), a conical, scaly gall produced on willows by the larva of a small dipterous fly (Cecidomyia strobiloides). --
Willow grouse (Zool.), the white ptarmigan. See ptarmigan. --
Willow lark (Zool.), the sedge warbler. [ Prov. Eng. ] --
Willow ptarmigan (Zool.) (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 (Zool.), a variety of the veery, or Wilson's thrush. See Veery. --
Willow warbler (Zool.), a very small European warbler (Phylloscopus trochilus); -- called also bee bird, haybird, golden wren, pettychaps, sweet William, Tom Thumb, and willow wren. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. To open and cleanse, as cotton, flax, or wool, by means of a willow. See Willow, n., 2. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Abounding with willows; containing willows; covered or overgrown with willows. “Willowed meads.” Collins. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. A willow. See Willow, n., 2. [ 1913 Webster ]