will1Audio Help/wɪl/Pronunciation Key - Show Spelled Pronunciation[wil]Pronunciation Key - Show IPA Pronunciationauxiliary verb and verb, present singular 1st person will, 2nd will or (Archaic) wilt, 3rd will, present plural will; past singular 1st person would, 2nd would or (Archaic) wouldst, 3rd would, past plural would; past participle (Obsolete) wold or would; imperative, infinitive, and present participle lacking.
–auxiliary verb
1.
am (is, are, etc.) about or going to: I will be there tomorrow. She will see you at dinner.
2.
am (is, are, etc.) disposed or willing to: People will do right.
3.
am (is, are, etc.) expected or required to: You will report to the principal at once.
4.
may be expected or supposed to: You will not have forgotten him. This will be right.
5.
am (is, are, etc.) determined or sure to (used emphatically): You would do it. People will talk.
6.
am (is, are, etc.) accustomed to, or do usually or often: You will often see her sitting there. He would write for hours at a time.
7.
am (is, are, etc.) habitually disposed or inclined to: Boys will be boys. After dinner they would read aloud.
8.
am (is, are, etc.) capable of; can: This tree will live without water for three months.
9.
am (is, are, etc.) going to: I will bid you “Good night.”
–verb (used with object), verb (used without object)
10.
to wish; desire; like: Go where you will. Ask, if you will, who the owner is.
[Origin: bef. 900; ME willen, OE wyllan; c. D willen, G wollen, ON vilja, Goth wiljan; akin to L velle to wish]
the faculty of conscious and especially of deliberate action; the power of control the mind has over its own actions: the freedom of the will.
2.
power of choosing one's own actions: to have a strong or a weak will.
3.
the act or process of using or asserting one's choice; volition: My hands are obedient to my will.
4.
wish or desire: to submit against one's will.
5.
purpose or determination, often hearty or stubborn determination; willfulness: to have the will to succeed.
6.
the wish or purpose as carried out, or to be carried out: to work one's will.
7.
disposition, whether good or ill, toward another.
8.
Law.
a.
a legal declaration of a person's wishes as to the disposition of his or her property or estate after death, usually written and signed by the testator and attested by witnesses.
b.
the document containing such a declaration.
–verb (used with object)
9.
to decide, bring about, or attempt to effect or bring about by an act of the will: He can walk if he wills it.
10.
to purpose, determine on, or elect, by an act of will: If he wills success, he can find it.
11.
to give or dispose of (property) by a will or testament; bequeath or devise.
12.
to influence by exerting will power: She was willed to walk the tightrope by the hypnotist.
–verb (used without object)
13.
to exercise the will: To will is not enough, one must do.
14.
to decide or determine: Others debate, but the king wills.
—Idiom
15.
at will,
a.
at one's discretion or pleasure; as one desires: to wander at will through the countryside.
b.
at one's disposal or command.
[Origin: bef. 900; (n.) ME will(e), OE will(a); c. D wil, G Wille, ON vili, Goth wilja; (v.) ME willen, OE willian to wish, desire, deriv. of the n.; akin to will1]
—Related forms
willer, noun
—Synonyms 3. choice. 4. pleasure, disposition, inclination. 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.
The mental faculty by which one deliberately chooses or decides upon a course of action: championed freedom of will against a doctrine of predetermination.
The act of exercising the will.
Diligent purposefulness; determination: an athlete with the will to win.
Self-control; self-discipline: lacked the will to overcome the addiction.
A legal declaration of how a person wishes his or her possessions to be disposed of after death.
A legally executed document containing this declaration.
Diligent purposefulness; determination: an athlete with the will to win.
Self-control; self-discipline: lacked the will to overcome the addiction.
A legal declaration of how a person wishes his or her possessions to be disposed of after death.
A legally executed document containing this declaration.
A desire, purpose, or determination, especially of one in authority: It is the sovereign's will that the prisoner be spared.
Deliberate intention or wish: Let it be known that I took this course of action against my will.
Free discretion; inclination or pleasure: wandered about, guided only by will.
Bearing or attitude toward others; disposition: full of good will.
A legal declaration of how a person wishes his or her possessions to be disposed of after death.
A legally executed document containing this declaration.
v.
willed, will·ing, wills
v.
tr.
To decide on; choose.
To yearn for; desire: "She makes you will your own destruction"(George Bernard Shaw).
To decree, dictate, or order.
To resolve with a forceful will; determine.
To induce or try to induce by sheer force of will: We willed the sun to come out.
To grant in a legal will; bequeath.
v.
intr.
To exercise the will.
To make a choice; choose.
[Middle English, from Old English willa; see wel-1 in Indo-European roots.]
O.E. *willan, wyllan "to wish, desire, want" (past tense wolde), from P.Gmc. *welljan (cf. O.S. willian, O.N. vilja, O.Fris. willa, Du. willen, O.H.G. wellan, Ger. wollen, Goth. wiljan "to will, wish, desire," Goth. waljan "to choose"), from PIE *wel-/*wol- "be pleasing" (cf. Skt. vrnoti "chooses, prefers," varyah "to be chosen, eligible, excellent," varanam "choosing;" Avestan verenav- "to wish, will, choose;" Gk. elpis "hope;" L. volo, velle "to wish, will, desire;" O.C.S. voljo, voliti "to will," veljo, veleti "to command;" Lith. velyti "to wish, favor," pa-vel-mi "I will," viliuos "I hope;" Welsh gwell "better"). Cf. also O.E. wel "well," lit. "according to one's wish;" wela "well-being, riches." The use as a future auxiliary was already developing in O.E. The implication of intention or volition distinguishes it from shall, which expresses or implies obligation or necessity. Contracted forms, especially after pronouns, began to appear 16c., as in sheele for "she will." The form with an apostrophe is from 17c.
O.E. will, willa, from P.Gmc. *weljon (cf. O.S. willio, O.N. vili, O.Fris. willa, Du. wil, O.H.G. willio, Ger. wille, Goth. wilja "will"), related to *willan "to wish" (see will (v.)). The meaning "written document expressing a person's wishes about disposition of property after death" is first recorded c.1380.
the capability of conscious choice and decision and intention; "the exercise of their volition we construe as revolt"- George Meredith [syn: volition]
2.
a fixed and persistent intent or purpose; "where there's a will there's a way"
3.
a legal document declaring a person's wishes regarding the disposal of their property when they die
verb
1.
decree or ordain; "God wills our existence"
2.
determine by choice; "This action was willed and intended"
3.
leave or give by will after one's death; "My aunt bequeathed me all her jewelry"; "My grandfather left me his entire estate" [syn: bequeath] [ant: disinherit]
the mental power by which one controls one's thought, actions and decisions Example: Do you believe in freedom of the will?
Arabic:
إرادَه
Chinese (Simplified):
意志
Chinese (Traditional):
意志
Czech:
vůle
Danish:
vilje
Dutch:
wil
Estonian:
tahe
Finnish:
tahto
French:
volonté
German:
der Wille
Greek:
θέληση, βούληση
Hungarian:
akarat
Icelandic:
vilji
Indonesian:
kemauan
Italian:
volontà
Japanese:
意志
Korean:
의지, 의사
Latvian:
griba
Lithuanian:
valia
Norwegian:
vilje
Polish:
wola
Portuguese (Brazil):
vontade
Portuguese (Portugal):
vontade
Romanian:
voinţă
Russian:
воля
Slovak:
vôľa
Slovenian:
volja
Spanish:
voluntad, albedrío
Swedish:
vilja
Turkish:
istenç, irade
will2[wil]noun
(control over) one's desire(s) or wish(es); determination Example: It was done against her will; He has no will of his own — he always does what the others want; Children often have strong wills; He has lost the will to live.
Arabic:
رَغْبَه، تَصْميم
Chinese (Simplified):
意愿
Chinese (Traditional):
意願
Czech:
vůle, přání
Danish:
vilje
Dutch:
wil
Estonian:
tahe
Finnish:
tahto
French:
volonté, désir
German:
der Wille
Greek:
θέληση, επιθυμία
Hungarian:
akarat
Icelandic:
vilji, viljastyrkur
Indonesian:
keinginan
Italian:
volontà, volere; voglia
Japanese:
意欲
Korean:
소망, 소원; 결의
Latvian:
griba; vēlēšanās
Lithuanian:
valia, noras
Norwegian:
vilje(styrke)
Polish:
wola
Portuguese (Brazil):
vontade
Portuguese (Portugal):
vontade
Romanian:
dorinţă; poftă
Russian:
воля; желание
Slovak:
prianie
Slovenian:
volja
Spanish:
voluntad
Swedish:
vilja
Turkish:
azim, irade, istek, arzu
will3[wil]noun
(a legal paper having written on it) a formal statement about what is to be done with one's belongings, body etc after one's death Example: Have you made a will yet?
Arabic:
وَصِيَّه
Chinese (Simplified):
遗嘱
Chinese (Traditional):
遺囑
Czech:
závěť
Danish:
testamente
Dutch:
testament
Estonian:
testament
Finnish:
testamentti
French:
testament
German:
Letzter Wille, das Testament
Greek:
διαθήκη
Hungarian:
végrendelet
Icelandic:
erfðaskrá
Indonesian:
surat wasiat
Italian:
testamento
Japanese:
遺言
Korean:
유언, 유서
Latvian:
testaments; novēlējums
Lithuanian:
testamentas
Norwegian:
testamente
Polish:
ostatnia wola
Portuguese (Brazil):
testamento
Portuguese (Portugal):
testamento
Romanian:
testament
Russian:
завещание
Slovak:
závet
Slovenian:
oporoka
Spanish:
testamento
Swedish:
testamente
Turkish:
vasiyetname
will1[wilailjuːlhiːlʃiːlˈitlwiːlðeilwount]verb
used to form future tenses of other verbs Example: We'll go at six o'clock tonight; Will you be here again next week?; Things will never be the same again; I will have finished the work by tomorrow evening.
Arabic:
سَوْفَ
Chinese (Simplified):
与动词连用表示将要发生的行为
Chinese (Traditional):
與動詞連用表示將要發生的行為
Czech:
(budoucí čas)
Danish:
vil
Dutch:
zullen
Estonian:
(abiverb tuleviku väljendamiseks)
French:
-rai, -ras, -ra, …
German:
Bezeichnung des Futurs
Greek:
θα
Hungarian:
(jövő idő:) megyünk , * menni fogunk stb.
Icelandic:
mun
Indonesian:
akan
Italian:
(ausiliare usato per formare il futuro)
Japanese:
～だろう
Korean:
미래를 나타내는 조동사
Latvian:
(lieto nākotnes formas veidošanai)
Norwegian:
vil, skal; komme til å
Portuguese (Portugal):
ir
Romanian:
voi, vei, veţi, va, vor; o să
Russian:
образует будущее время
Slovak:
(budúci čas)
Slovenian:
bom, boš, …
Spanish:
(para formar el futuro)
Swedish:
kommer att, skall, blir
Turkish:
…-ir, *er, …-ecek
will2[wilailjuːlhiːlʃiːlˈitlwiːlðeilwount]verb
used in requests or commands Example: Will you come into my office for a moment, please?; Will you please stop talking!
Arabic:
تُسْتَعْمَل في جُمْلَة الطَّلَب المُهَذَّب
Chinese (Simplified):
与动词连用构成疑问句表示能不能
Chinese (Traditional):
與動詞連用構成疑問句表示能不能
Czech:
chtít
Danish:
vil
Dutch:
willen
Estonian:
(väljendab palvet, käsku)
French:
vouloir
German:
wollen
Greek:
έχετε την καλοσύνη να
Hungarian:
légy v. legyen szives!
Icelandic:
vill
Indonesian:
sudilah
Italian:
volere
Japanese:
～して下さい
Korean:
요청이나 권고를 나타낼 때
Latvian:
(lieto lūguma vai pavēles izteikšanai)
Lithuanian:
gal galëtumët
Norwegian:
vil
Portuguese (Portugal):
faz favor de
Romanian:
a vrea
Russian:
мог бы
Slovak:
chcieť
Slovenian:
ali bi…
Spanish:
querer, desear
Swedish:
skulle vilja, kan
Turkish:
…-misiniz; …-eceksin, …-in, …-iniz
will3[wilailjuːlhiːlʃiːlˈitlwiːlðeilwount]verb
used to show willingness Example: I'll do that for you if you like; I won't do it!
Arabic:
تُسْتَعْمَل للتَّعْبير عن الرَّغْبَه أو الإسْتِعْداد
Chinese (Simplified):
（表示意愿）愿，要
Chinese (Traditional):
(表示意願)願，要
Czech:
chtít, být ochoten
Danish:
vil
Dutch:
willen
Estonian:
(väljendab nõusolekut)
French:
vouloir (bien)
German:
werden
Greek:
θα, υπόσχομαι να, αρνούμαι να
Hungarian:
(hajlandóság:) megteszem, meg fogom tenni
Icelandic:
skal
Indonesian:
akan
Italian:
(ausiliare usato per formare il futuro)
Japanese:
～するつもりである
Korean:
1인칭의 의지를 나타낼 때
Latvian:
(lieto, lai izteiktu gatavību darīt)
Norwegian:
skal, vil
Portuguese (Portugal):
faço, *não faço, etc.
Romanian:
a vrea
Russian:
быть готовым сделать
Slovak:
chcieť, byť ochotný
Slovenian:
biti voljan
Spanish:
(para expresar voluntad)
Swedish:
kan, skall
Turkish:
…-er, …-ecek
will4[wilailjuːlhiːlʃiːlˈitlwiːlðeilwount]verb
used to state that something happens regularly, is quite normal etc Example: Accidents will happen.
Arabic:
تُسْتَعْمَل للتَّعْبير عن تَكرار حُدوث العَمَل
Chinese (Simplified):
表示经常发生的动作
Chinese (Traditional):
表示經常發生的動作
Czech:
stávat se
Danish:
vil
Estonian:
(väljendab paratamatust)
French:
il arrive que
German:
werden (immer)
Greek:
συνηθίζεται να, είναι αναπόφευκτο να
Hungarian:
(szükségszerűség:) balesetek mindig lesznek
Icelandic:
vera vanur að, eiga það til að
Indonesian:
biasa
Italian:
(ausiliare che indica abitudine, consuetudine o inevitabilità)
A legally enforceable declaration of how a person wishes his or her property to be distributed after death. In a will a person can also recommend a guardian for his or her
children. Also known as a "will and testament".
Investopedia Commentary
Making a will is a very important component of estate planning. In it you declare who gets your
belongings and assets when you die. If you do not have a will, the distribution of your property is left up to the government, and may even end up becoming state property. A will therefore helps ensure
your wishes are carried out, and can make things simpler and easier for your heirs.
Main Entry: will Function: transitive verb 1: to order or direct by will <willed that his money be given to charity> 2: to
dispose of by will <willed the house to their children>
Main Entry: will Function: noun 1: the desire, inclination, or choice of a person or group 2: the faculty of wishing, choosing, desiring, or
intending 3: a legal declaration of a person's wishes regarding the disposal of his or her property after death; especially: a formally executed written instrument by
which a person makes disposition of his or her estate to take effect after death —see also CODICIL, LIVING WILL, TESTAMENT
antenuptial will : a will that was executed by a person prior to that person's marriage and is usually revocable by the court if no provision was made for the person's spouse unless an intention not to make such
a provision is manifestconditional will : a will intended to take effect upon a certain contingency and usually construed as having absolute force when the language pertaining to
the condition suggests a general purpose to make a willcounter will :MUTUAL WILL in this
entryholographic will : a will written out in the hand of the testator and accepted as valid in many states provided it meets statutory requirements (as that no important parts
have been altered or replaced in the hand of another and that it has been properly witnessed)international will : a will written in any language and executed in accordance with
procedures established as a result of an international convention so as to be valid as to form regardless of the location of its execution or the assets, nationality, domicile, or residence of the
testator NOTE: A properly executed international will is still subject to local probate laws; the validity deriving from adherence to statutory requirements for such wills is purely formal, and
a will invalid in respect to such requirements may still be valid under other rules.joint and mutual will : a single will jointly executed by two or more persons and
containing reciprocal provisions for the disposition of property owned jointly, severally, or in common upon the death of one of them called also joint and reciprocal willjoint
will : a single will jointly executed by two or more persons and containing their respective wills <the execution of a joint will or mutual wills does not create a presumption
of a contract not to revoke the will or wills —Maine Revised Statutes> —compare JOINT AND MUTUAL
WILL in this entry NOTE: A joint and mutual will is a joint will, but a joint will need not contain reciprocal provisions.mutual will : one of two separate
wills that share reciprocal provisions for the disposition of property in the event of death by one of the parties <a mutual will executed in connection with an agreement based on sufficient
consideration is both contractual and testamentary in nature —Pruss v. Pruss, 514 North Western Reporter, Second Series 335 (1994)> called also counter willreciprocal
will —compare JOINT AND MUTUAL WILL in this entrymystic will in the civil law of
Louisiana: a will signed, sealed, witnessed, and notarized according to statutory procedure called also mystic testamentsecret testament NOTE: The Louisiana Civil
Code requires that for a mystic will to be valid, the will document itself or the envelope containing it must be closed and sealed and thus presented to the notary public and witnesses, or closed and
sealed in their presence, and the testator must declare that it contains his or her signed will. The envelope or closed document must be subscribed by the testator, witnesses, and notary
public.non·in·ter·ven·tion will /"nän-"in-t&r-'ven-ch&n-/ : a will that provides for an executor to administer the
estate without judicial involvementnuncupative will : a will allowed in some states that is dictated orally before witnesses and set down in writing within a statutorily specified
time period (as 30 days) and that is allowed only for one in imminent peril of death from a terminal illness or from military or maritime servicepour–over will : a will that
provides for a transfer of assets (as the residue of the estate) to a trust (as an inter vivos trust) upon the death of the testatorreciprocal will :MUTUAL WILL in this entry—at will: subject to an individual's discretion; specifically:
without a requirement that the employer have just cause for terminating an employee <could be discharged at will>
Will County, IL (county, FIPS 197) Location: 41.43924 N, 87.98240 W Population (1990): 357313 (122870 housing units) Area: 2168.5 sq km (land), 31.6 sq km (water)
Nill\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Nilled; p. pr. & vb. n. Nilling.] [AS. nilan, nyllan; ne not + willan to will. See No, and Will.] Not to will; to refuse; to reject. [Obs.] Certes, said he, I nill thine offered grace. --Spenser.
Shall\, v. i. & auxiliary. [imp. Should.] [OE. shal, schal, imp. sholde, scholde, AS. scal, sceal, I am obliged, imp. scolde, sceolde, inf. sculan; akin to OS. skulan, pres. skal, imp. skolda, D. zullen, pres. zal, imp. zoude, zou, OHG. solan, scolan, pres. scal, sol. imp. scolta, solta, G. sollen, pres. soll, imp. sollte, Icel. skulu, pres. skal, imp. skyldi, SW. skola, pres. skall, imp. skulle, Dan. skulle, pres. skal, imp. skulde, Goth. skulan, pres. skal, imp. skulda, and to AS. scyld guilt, G. schuld guilt, fault, debt, and perhaps to L. scelus crime.] Note: [Shall is defective, having no infinitive, imperative, or participle.]1. To owe; to be under obligation for. [Obs.] "By the faith I shall to God" --Court of Love. 2. To be obliged; must. [Obs.] "Me athinketh [I am sorry] that I shall rehearse it her." --Chaucer. 3. As an auxiliary, shall indicates a duty or necessity whose obligation is derived from the person speaking; as, you shall go; he shall go; that is, I order or promise your going. It thus ordinarily expresses, in the second and third persons, a command, a threat, or a promise. If the auxillary be emphasized, the command is made more imperative, the promise or that more positive and sure. It is also employed in the language of prophecy; as, "the day shall come when . . ., " since a promise or threat and an authoritative prophecy nearly coincide in significance. In shall with the first person, the necessity of the action is sometimes implied as residing elsewhere than in the speaker; as, I shall suffer; we shall see; and there is always a less distinct and positive assertion of his volition than is indicated by will. "I shall go" implies nearly a simple futurity; more exactly, a foretelling or an expectation of my going, in which, naturally enough, a certain degree of plan or intention may be included; emphasize the shall, and the event is described as certain to occur, and the expression approximates in meaning to our emphatic "I will go." In a question, the relation of speaker and source of obligation is of course transferred to the person addressed; as, "Shall you go?" (answer, "I shall go"); "Shall he go?" i. e., "Do you require or promise his going?" (answer, "He shall go".) The same relation is transferred to either second or third person in such phrases as "You say, or think, you shall go;" "He says, or thinks, he shall go." After a conditional conjunction (as if, whether) shall is used in all persons to express futurity simply; as, if I, you, or he shall say they are right. Should is everywhere used in the same connection and the same senses as shall, as its imperfect. It also expresses duty or moral obligation; as, he should do it whether he will or not. In the early English, and hence in our English Bible, shall is the auxiliary mainly used, in all the persons, to express simple futurity. (Cf. Will, v. t.) Shall may be used elliptically; thus, with an adverb or other word expressive of motion go may be omitted. "He to England shall along with you." --Shak. Note: Shall and will are often confounded by inaccurate speakers and writers. Say: I shall be glad to see you. Shall I do this? Shall I help you? (not Will I do this?) See Will.
Shall\, v. i. & auxiliary. [imp. Should.] [OE. shal, schal, imp. sholde, scholde, AS. scal, sceal, I am obliged, imp. scolde, sceolde, inf. sculan; akin to OS. skulan, pres. skal, imp. skolda, D. zullen, pres. zal, imp. zoude, zou, OHG. solan, scolan, pres. scal, sol. imp. scolta, solta, G. sollen, pres. soll, imp. sollte, Icel. skulu, pres. skal, imp. skyldi, SW. skola, pres. skall, imp. skulle, Dan. skulle, pres. skal, imp. skulde, Goth. skulan, pres. skal, imp. skulda, and to AS. scyld guilt, G. schuld guilt, fault, debt, and perhaps to L. scelus crime.] Note: [Shall is defective, having no infinitive, imperative, or participle.]1. To owe; to be under obligation for. [Obs.] "By the faith I shall to God" --Court of Love. 2. To be obliged; must. [Obs.] "Me athinketh [I am sorry] that I shall rehearse it her." --Chaucer. 3. As an auxiliary, shall indicates a duty or necessity whose obligation is derived from the person speaking; as, you shall go; he shall go; that is, I order or promise your going. It thus ordinarily expresses, in the second and third persons, a command, a threat, or a promise. If the auxillary be emphasized, the command is made more imperative, the promise or that more positive and sure. It is also employed in the language of prophecy; as, "the day shall come when . . ., " since a promise or threat and an authoritative prophecy nearly coincide in significance. In shall with the first person, the necessity of the action is sometimes implied as residing elsewhere than in the speaker; as, I shall suffer; we shall see; and there is always a less distinct and positive assertion of his volition than is indicated by will. "I shall go" implies nearly a simple futurity; more exactly, a foretelling or an expectation of my going, in which, naturally enough, a certain degree of plan or intention may be included; emphasize the shall, and the event is described as certain to occur, and the expression approximates in meaning to our emphatic "I will go." In a question, the relation of speaker and source of obligation is of course transferred to the person addressed; as, "Shall you go?" (answer, "I shall go"); "Shall he go?" i. e., "Do you require or promise his going?" (answer, "He shall go".) The same relation is transferred to either second or third person in such phrases as "You say, or think, you shall go;" "He says, or thinks, he shall go." After a conditional conjunction (as if, whether) shall is used in all persons to express futurity simply; as, if I, you, or he shall say they are right. Should is everywhere used in the same connection and the same senses as shall, as its imperfect. It also expresses duty or moral obligation; as, he should do it whether he will or not. In the early English, and hence in our English Bible, shall is the auxiliary mainly used, in all the persons, to express simple futurity. (Cf. Will, v. t.) Shall may be used elliptically; thus, with an adverb or other word expressive of motion go may be omitted. "He to England shall along with you." --Shak. Note: Shall and will are often confounded by inaccurate speakers and writers. Say: I shall be glad to see you. Shall I do this? Shall I help you? (not Will I do this?) See Will.
Vo*li"tion\, n. [F., fr. L. volo I will, velle to will, be willing. See Voluntary.]1. The act of willing or choosing; the act of forming a purpose; the exercise of the will. Volition is the actual exercise of the power the mind has to order the consideration of any idea, or the forbearing to consider it. --Locke. Volition is an act of the mind, knowingly exerting that dominion it takes itself to have over any part of the man, by employing it in, or withholding it from, any particular action. --Locke. 2. The result of an act or exercise of choosing or willing; a state of choice. 3. The power of willing or determining; will. Syn: Will; choice; preference; determination; purpose. Usage: Volition, Choice. Choice is the familiar, and volition the scientific, term for the same state of the will; viz., an "elective preference." When we have "made up our minds" (as we say) to a thing, i. e., have a settled state of choice respecting it, that state is called an immanent volition; when we put forth any particular act of choice, that act is called an emanent, or executive, or imperative, volition. When an immanent, or settled state of, choice, is one which controls or governs a series of actions, we call that state a predominant volition; while we give the name of subordinate volitions to those particular acts of choice which carry into effect the object sought for by the governing or "predominant volition." See Will.
Vol"un*ta*ry\, a. [L. voluntarius, fr. voluntas will, choice, from the root of velle to will, p. pr. volens; akin to E. will: cf. F. volontaire, Of. also voluntaire. See Will, v. t., and cf. Benevolent, Volition, Volunteer.]1. Proceeding from the will; produced in or by an act of choice. That sin or guilt pertains exclusively to voluntary action is the true principle of orthodoxy. --N. W. Taylor. 2. Unconstrained by the interference of another; unimpelled by the influence of another; not prompted or persuaded by another; done of his or its own accord; spontaneous; acting of one's self, or of itself; free. Our voluntary service he requires. --Milton. She fell to lust a voluntary prey. --Pope. 3. Done by design or intention; intentional; purposed; intended; not accidental; as, if a man kills another by lopping a tree, it is not voluntary manslaughter. 4. (Physiol.) Of or pertaining to the will; subject to, or regulated by, the will; as, the voluntary motions of an animal, such as the movements of the leg or arm (in distinction from involuntary motions, such as the movements of the heart); the voluntary muscle fibers, which are the agents in voluntary motion. 5. Endowed with the power of willing; as, man is a voluntary agent. God did not work as a necessary, but a voluntary, agent, intending beforehand, and decreeing with himself, that which did outwardly proceed from him. --Hooker. 6. (Law) Free; without compulsion; according to the will, consent, or agreement, of a party; without consideration; gratuitous; without valuable consideration. 7. (Eccl.) Of or pertaining to voluntaryism; as, a voluntary church, in distinction from an established or state church. Voluntary affidavit or oath (Law), an affidavit or oath made in extrajudicial matter. Voluntary conveyance (Law), a conveyance without valuable consideration. Voluntary escape (Law), the escape of a prisoner by the express consent of the sheriff. Voluntary jurisdiction. (Eng. Eccl. Law) See Contentious jurisdiction, under Contentious. Voluntary waste. (Law) See Waste, n., 4. Syn: See Spontaneous.
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Audio Help [wil] Pronunciation Key auxiliary verb and verb, present singular 1st person will, 2nd will or (Archaic
