will

Meanings

Verb

  • To be able to, to have the capacity to.
  • To habitually do (a given action).
  • To choose or agree to (do something); .
  • To wish, desire (something).
  • To wish or desire (that something happen); to intend (that).
  • Implying will go.
  • To instruct (that something be done) in one's will.
  • To bequeath (something) to someone in one's will (legal document).
  • To exert one's force of will (intention) in order to compel, or attempt to compel, something to happen or someone to do something.

Noun

Related

Similar words

Origin

  • From Middle English willen, wullen, wollen, from Old English willan ("to want"), from Proto-West Germanic *willjan, from Proto-Germanic *wiljaną, from Proto-Indo-European *welh₁- ("to choose, wish").
  • Cognate with Dutch willen, Low German willen, German wollen, Swedish and Norwegian Nynorsk vilja, Norwegian Bokmål ville, Latin velle ("wish") and Albanian vel ("to satisfy, be stuffed"). The verb is not always distinguishable from Etymology 3, below.
  • From Middle English wille, from Old English willa ("mind, will, determination, purpose, desire, wish, request, joy, delight, pleasure") (compare verb willian), from Proto-Germanic *wiljô ("desire, will"), from Proto-Indo-European *welh₁- ("to choose, wish"). Cognate with Dutch wil, German Wille, Swedish vilja, Norwegian vilje.
  • From Middle English willen, from Old English willian, from Proto-West Germanic *willjōn, from Proto-Indo-European *welh₁-. Cognate with German Low German willen, German willen. The verb is not always distinguishable from Etymology 1, above.

Modern English dictionary

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