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| will [ wil ] |
noun (plural wills) |
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| Definition: |
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1. part of mind that makes decisions: the part of the mind with which somebody consciously decides things
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2. power to decide: the power to make decisions
  This lawn mower seems to have a will of its own!
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3. process of making decisions: the use of the mind to make decisions about things
It's a matter of will as much as opportunity.
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4. determination: the determination to do something
She has lots of ability but she lacks the will to succeed.
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5. desire or inclination: a desire or inclination to do something
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6. attitude toward somebody else: the attitude or feelings somebody has toward somebody or something
I bear you no ill will.
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7. something that somebody wants to happen: what a person or group, especially one in authority, wants to happen
(
formal
)
It was her will that he should never be told the truth.
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8. law statement of distribution of deceased's property: a statement of what somebody wants to happen to his or her property after he or she dies, or a legal document containing this statement.
See also living will
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transitive verb (past and past participle willed, present participle will·ing, 3rd person present singular wills) |
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| Definition: |
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1. try to cause something by thoughts: to try to make something happen by the power of the mind
He willed himself to stay awake.
Her parents were watching her run, willing her on.
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2. law leave somebody something in will: to give something officially to somebody by declaring it in a will
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3. want or decide something: to want something to happen or to decide that something will happen
(
archaic or formal
)
It shall be as God wills.
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| [ Old English willa (noun), wyllan (verb), and willian (verb < noun) < Indo-European, "to will, wish"] |
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| will·able adjective |
| will·er noun |
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at will when somebody wishes (formal)
They are free to come and go at will.
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with a will with energy and enthusiasm
He set about the task with a will.
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with the best will in the world used to indicate that somebody cannot do something however much he or she wishes or tries to do it
With the best will in the world we won't be able to supervise her all the time.
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