Origin: 1150–1200; ME; OE wilful willing. See will2, -ful
Related forms:
will⋅ful⋅ly, adverb
will⋅ful⋅ness, noun
Synonyms: 1.volitional. 2.intransigent; contrary, refractory, pigheaded, inflexible, obdurate, adamant. Willful,headstrong,perverse,wayward refer to one who stubbornly insists upon doing as he or she pleases. Willful suggests a stubborn persistence in doing what one wishes, esp. in opposition to those whose wishes or commands ought to be respected or obeyed: that willful child who disregarded his parents' advice. One who is headstrong is often foolishly, and sometimes violently, self-willed: reckless and headstrong youths. The perverse person is unreasonably or obstinately intractable or contrary, often with the express intention of being disagreeable: perverse out of sheer spite. Wayward in this sense has the connotation of rash wrongheadedness that gets one into trouble: a reform school for wayward girls.
c.1200, "strong-willed," from will (n.) + full. Willfully is late O.E. wilfullice "of one's own free will, voluntarily;" bad sense of "on purpose" is attested from c.1374.
Main Entry: will·ful Variant: orwil·ful/'wil-f&l/ Function: adjective : not accidental : done deliberately or knowingly and often in conscious violation or disregard of the law, duty, or the rights of others <willful injury> willful violation of a court order> —will·ful·lyadverb —will·ful·nessnoun
[wil-fuh
l] 