will
1. will \w*l, (*)l, (')wil\ \w*d, (*)d, (')wu.d\ vb or would; or will [ME
(1st & 3d sing. pres. indic), fr. OE wille (infin. wyllan); aki] past pres
sing & pl n to OHG wili (3d sing. pres. indic.) wills, L velle to wish,
will : DESIRE, WISH {call it what you ~} 1: - used to express desire,
choice, willingness, consent, or in negativ e constructions refusal {could
find not one who would take the job} {if we ~ all do our best} {~ you
please stop that racket} 2: - used to express frequent, customary, or
habitual action or natural tendency or disposition {~ get angry over
nothing} {~ work one day and loaf the next} 3: - used to express simple
futurity {tomorrow morning I ~ wake up in this first-class hotel suite
-Tennessee Williams} 4: - used to express capability or sufficiency {back
seat ~ hold three passengers} 5: - used to express probability or
recognition and often equivalent to the simple verb {that ~ be the
milkman} 6a: - used to express determination, insistence, persistence, or
willful ness {I have made up my mind to go and go I ~} 6b: - used to
express inevitability {accidents ~ happen} 7: - used to express a command,
exhortation, or injunction {you ~R do as I say, at once} : to have a wish
or desire
2. will \'wil\ n [ME, fr. OE willa will, desire; akin to OE wille] [fr. the
phrase our will is which introduces it] 1: DESIRE, WISH : as 1a:
DISPOSITION, INCLINATION 1b: APPETITE, PASSION 1c: CHOICE, DETERMINATION
2a: something desired; esp : a choice or determination of one havin g
authority or power archaic 2b1: REQUEST, COMMAND 2b2: the part of a
summons or other signet letter that expresses its will o r command 3: the
act, process, or experience of willing : VOLITION 4a: mental powers
manifested as wishing, choosing, desiring, intending 4b: a disposition to
act according to principles or ends 4c: the collective desire of a group
5: SELF-CONTROL 6: a legal declaration of a person's mind as to the manner
in which he woul d have his property or estate disposed of after his death;
esp : a written instrument legally executed by which a man makes
disposition of his estate to take effect after his death
3. will \'wil\ vt 1a: to order or direct by a will 1b: to dispose of by or
as if by a will : BEQUEATH 2a: to determine by an act of choice 2b:
DECREE, ORDAIN {Providence ~s it} 2c: INTEND, PURPOSE 1: to exercise the
will 2: CHOOSE