will Hear it!

will1 definition

will (wil)

noun

  1. the power of making a reasoned choice or decision or of controlling one's own actions a man of weak will
    1. strong and fixed purpose; determination where there's a will there's a way
    2. energy and enthusiasm to work with a will
  2. disposition or attitude toward others a man of good will
    1. the particular desire, purpose, pleasure, choice, etc. of a certain person or group what is your will?
    2. a compelling command or decree the will of the people
  3. Law
    1. the legal statement of a person's wishes concerning the disposal of his or her property after death
    2. the document containing this

Etymology: ME wille < OE willa, akin to Ger wille, willen < IE base *wel-, to wish, choose > L velle, to wish, voluptas, pleasure

transitive verb

  1. to have as the object of one's will; desire; want to will another's happiness, to will to survive
  2. to control or influence by the power of the will to will oneself into an action, to will others into submission
  3. Law to bequeath by a will

Etymology: ME willien < OE willian < willan, to desire: see will

intransitive verb

  1. to exert one's will to succeed by willing
  2. to wish, desire, prefer, or choose to do as one wills
will Idioms

at will

when one wishes; at one's discretion
will2 definition

will (wil)

auxiliary verb would

  1. used to indicate simple future time when will she be able to travel? I will bring the dessert
  2. used to express determination, compulsion, or obligation you will listen to me, he will have his own way, I will have you know that I was here first
  3. used to express inclination or inevitability boys will be boys
  4. used in polite questions will you have some wine?
  5. used to express habit or customary practice they will talk for hours on end
  6. used to express expectation or surmise that will be his wife with him, I suppose
  7. used to express possibility this drawer won't open

Etymology: ME willen < OE willan, to be willing, desire, akin to Ger wollen, will: for IE base see will

transitive verb

Obsolete to wish; desire what will you, Master?

Webster's New World College Dictionary Copyright © 2009 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

Comments
Improve this definition.
Do you have more to add? Share your linguistic knowledge or observation.
/Register to save your comments.
Related Discussions (7)
TopicRepliesLatest Post
am to, will have to74 months ago
If I await someone... will I become his awaiter?174 years ago
Will/To be going to244 years ago
future - "pres. progr." or "will&qu134 years ago
Shall we use will or will you be using shall?175 years ago

See all 7 discussions · Browse Forums