will
2
[ wil ]
/ wɪl /
noun
verb (used with object), willed, will·ing.
verb (used without object), willed, will·ing.
to exercise the will: To will is not enough, one must do.
to decide or determine: Others debate, but the king wills.
Idioms for will
- at one's discretion or pleasure; as one desires: to wander at will through the countryside.
- at one's disposal or command.
at will,
Origin of will
2
before 900; (noun) Middle English
will(e), Old English
will(a); cognate with Dutch
wil, German
Wille, Old Norse
vili, Gothic
wilja; (v.) Middle English
willen, Old English
willian to wish, desire, derivative of the noun; akin to
will1
SYNONYMS FOR will
3
choice.
5
resolution,
decision.
Will,
volition refer to conscious choice as to action or thought.
Will denotes fixed and persistent intent or purpose:
Where there's a will there's a way.
Volition is the power of forming an intention or the incentive for using the will:
to exercise one's volition in making a decision.
9 determine.
11 leave.
OTHER WORDS FROM will
will·er, nounWords nearby will
British Dictionary definitions for at will (1 of 2)
will
1
/ (wɪl) /
verb past would (takes an infinitive without to or an implied infinitive)
Word Origin for will
Old English
willan; related to Old Saxon
willian, Old Norse
vilja, Old High German
wollen, Latin
velle to wish, will
undefined will
See
shall
British Dictionary definitions for at will (2 of 2)
will
2
/ (wɪl) /
noun
verb (mainly tr; often takes a clause as object or an infinitive)
Derived forms of will
willer, nounWord Origin for will
Old English
willa; related to Old Norse
vili, Old High German
willeo (German
Wille), Gothic
wilja, Old Slavonic
volja
Idioms and Phrases with at will (1 of 2)
at will
Freely, as one pleases, as in The grounds are open to the public and one can wander about at will, or With this thermostat you can adjust the room temperature at will. [1300s]
Idioms and Phrases with at will (2 of 2)
will