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willan

  • verb [ anomalous ]
Dictionary links
Grammar
willan, prs. ic, hé wille, wile, ðú wilt, pl. wé willaþ ; p. wolde, walde ; part. prs. willende
Wright's OE grammar
§214; §474; §551;
To will, wish
Show examples

  • Volo ic wylle, uis ðú wylt, uult hé wyle, uolumus wé wyllaþ . . . utinam uellem eálá gyf ic wolde; utinam uelim eálá gyf ic wylle gyt. . .

    uelle

    wyllan,
      Ælfc. Gr. 32 ; Zup. 199, 14-200, 6.
to will, exercise the faculty of willing
Show examples

  • Ic undergyte ðæt ic wylle undergytan and gemunan, and ic wylle ðæt ic undergyte and gemune; ðǽr ðǽr ðæt gemynd bið, ðǽr bið ðæt andgyt and se wylla,

      Homl. Skt. i. 1, 120.

  • Þurh ðone willan seó sáwul wile swá hwæt swá hire lícaþ,

      Homl. Th. i. 288, 29.

  • Ǽlc mon hæfþ ðone friódóm, ðæt hé wát hwæt hé wile, hwæt hé nele

    ipsis inest volendi, nolendique libertas

    ,
      Bt. 40, 7; Fox 242, 20.
where the will of the subject determines his own action,
to will, purpose, think, mean, intend,
with an infinitive
Show examples

  • Ic wille mid flóde folc ácwellan,

      Cd. Th. 78, 20 ; Gen. 1296.

  • Ic reste on ðé ágan wylle,

      254, 16; Dan. 612.

  • Ic ðéc for sunu wylle freógan,

      Beo. Th. 1899; B. 947.

  • Hwyder wilt ðú gangan? Ic wille gangan tó Róme,

      Blickl. Homl. 191, 16.

  • Ne wille ic leng his geongra wurþan,

      Cd. Th. 19, 15 ; Gen. 291.

  • Hé wile eft gesettan heofona ríce,

      25, 20; Gen. 396 : 176, 30 ; Gen. 2919.

  • Wé hine willaþ ácwellan and ús tó mete dón,

      Blickl. Homl. 231, 14.
  • Hú gewearð ðé ðæs, ðæt ðú sǽbeorgas sécan woldes máðmum bedǽled? Andr. Kmbl. 616; An. 308.

  • Wolde hé hiene selfne on ðæm gefeohte forspillan

    mori in bello paratus

    ,
      Ors. 3, 9 ; Swt. 128, 6: Cd. Th. 176, 2 ; Gen. 2905.

  • Ne wellaþ (willaþ, Wrt. Voc. ii. 71, 64) cweþan

    ne velitis dicere

    ,
      Mt. Kmbl. Rush. 3, 9.

  • Hwí forcwið hé . . . búton hé cueðan wielle (wille,

      Cott. MSS.),
    ðæt hé ne lufige ðone Hláford, Past. 5 ; Swt. 43, 7.

  • Hwæþre him Alwalda wille wyrpe gefremman,

      Beo. Th. 2633; B. 1314.

  • Ðæt ðú for sunu wolde hererinc habban,

      2355; B. 1175.

  • Ðú him ðæt gehéte, ðæt ðú hyra frumcyn ícan wolde,

      Cd. Th. 236, 8; Dan. 318.
with an accusa-tive
Show examples

  • God symble wyle gód, and nǽfre nán yfel,

      Homl. Skt. i. l, 48.

  • From ðære tungan ðe teosu wylle

    a lingua dolosa

    ,
      Ps. Th. 119, 2.

  • Ðæt heó hí frúne hwæt hí sóhton, oþþe hwæt hí ðǽr woldon,

      Bd. 3, 8; S. 531, 39.
with a clause
Show examples

  • Wéndun gé and woldun, ðæt gé Scyppende sceoldan gelíce wesan,

      Exon. Th. 141, 30; Gú. 636.

  • Wéndon and woldon, ðæt hié on elþeódigum ǽt geworhton,

      Andr. Kmbl. 2145; An. 1074.
absolute,
of purpose to go
Show examples

  • Nú wille ic ðam líge neár,

      Cd. Th. 47, 14; Gen. 760.

  • Ðá hé him from wolde,

      Past. 3; Swt. 35, 19.

  • Gif hé eów áxie hwæder gé willon (

    quo vadis?

    ),
      Gen. 32, 17.

  • Ðá hí tó scipan woldon,

      Chr. 1009 ; Erl. 142, 28.
  • Ðá salde se here áþas ðæt hié of his ríce uuoldon, 878 ; Erl. 80, 17.

  • Ðá woldan hié on écnesse hǽle and trume wið deófla níþum, and wundorlíce deáþ geþrowodan,

      Blickl. Homl. 171, 30.

  • Mið ðæm ðe hí hié getrymed hæfdon, and tógædere woldon,

      Ors. 4, 2 ; Swt. 160, 28.
of purpose to do
Show examples

  • Hé cýdde his syrewunge, hú hé ymbe wolde (

    how he had intended to act

    ),
      Homl. Th. i. 82, 18.
of things,
to tend
Show examples

  • Hwæðer ðú nú ongite hwider ðiós sprǽce wille ? Ðá cwæþ ic : Sege mé hwider hió wille

    jamne igitur vides, quid haec omnia, quae diximus, consequatur ? quidnam ? inquam

    ,
      Bt. 40, l; Fox 234, 32.
where the will of the subject determines the action of another,
to will, ordain, order, command,
with an accusative
Show examples

  • Se ealdorman gewát ðá ðá hit wolde God,

      Homl. Skt. i. 20, 13.
  • Ðá ðá hé wolde ðæt ðæt hé wolde. Met. 11, 15.

  • Hwæþer wé ǽnigne frýdóm habban, ðe sió godcunde foretiohhung oþþe sió wyrd ús néde tó ðam ðe hí willen,

      Bt. 40, 7; Fox 242, 16.
with a clause
Show examples

  • Ic wylle (uillo. Lind. : willo,

      Rush.)
    ðæt hé wunige ðus, Jn. Skt. 21, 22.

  • Wyltú (wylt ðú,

    v. l.

    ) wé secgaþ ðæt fýr cume of heofene,
      Lk. Skt. 9, 54.

  • Hé wolde ðæt ða cnihtas cræft leornedon,

      Cd. Th. 221, 4; Dan. 83.

  • He wolde ðæt him eorðe geseted wurde,

      6, 35 ; Gen. 99: Met. 11, 16.
absolute
Show examples

  • Hé cunnian wolde his Drihtnes wyllan, húl hé wolde be him (

    what he would have him do

    ) . . . Cwæð se Hǽlend, ðæt hé sceolde underfón mǽden, Homl. Skt. i. 4, 7-13.
to will, wish, want, desire,
with infinitive
Show examples

  • Ic wielle heora cýpan hér luflícor ðonne ic gebicge ðǽr,

      Wülck. Gl. 97, 2.

  • Wilt ðú, gif ðú móst, wesan aldordéma? Cd. Th. 149,

      26; Gen. 2480.

  • Ðé wile beorna sum him geágnian,

      109, 26; Gen. 1828.

  • Se ðe wyle sóð sprecan,

      Beo. Th. 5721; B. 2864.

  • Ðé sǽlíðend secgan willaþ, ðæt wé fundiaþ Higelác sécan,

      3641; B. 1818.

  • Wé willaþ beón bylewite

    volumus esse simplices

    ,
      Coll. Monast. Th. 33, 7.

  • Ic ðíne bebodu wolde gegán

    concupivi mandata tua

    ,
      Ps. Th. 118, 40.

  • Swá fela swá hé habban wolde,

      Chr. 877; Erl. 78, 24.

  • On hwilce healfe ðú wille hwyrft dón,

      Cd. Th. 115, 12; Gen. 1918 : 139, 20 ; Gen. 2312.

  • Gesecgan mid hú micle elne ǽghwylc wille synrust þweán,

      Exon. Th. 81, 4; Cri. 1318.

  • Se biscop ðe wile onfón Godes mildheortnesse,

      Blickl. Homl. 45, 7.

  • Gif ǽnig man wolde heora óðrum fylstan, Homl. Skt. ii. 27, 56. (a l) where an infinitive may be supplied from the context :-- His néxtan be his mihte gehelpan, and ofer his mihte wyllan

    to help his neighbour according to his power, and to wish to help him beyond his power

    ,
      Homl. Th. i. 584, 9.
with an accusative
Show examples

  • Ðæt ðæt ðú wylt, ðæt ðú lufast,

      Homl. Th. i. 282, 5.
  • Hwæt wille gé? Coll. Monast. Th. 32, 23 : Blickl. Homl. 155, 35.

  • For ealle ðe willaþ ðæt hé wile,

      L. Ath. iv. 3; Th. i. 222, 20.
  • Hé cwæþ: ' Hwæt wilt ðú ðæt ic ðé do?' Næs ðæt ná ðæt hé nyste hwæt se blinda wolde. Blickl. Homl. 19, 33.

  • Hig dydon ymbe hyne swá hwæt swá hig woldon (waldon,

      Lind. : waldun, Rush.), Mt. Kmbl. 17, 12.

  • Bide mé swá hwæt swá ðú wylle (willt ł wælle. Lind.) . . . ic ðé sylle swá hwæt swá ðú mé bitst, þeáh ðú wylle healf mín ríce,

      Mk. Skt. 6, 22, 23.

  • Behreówsunge má wyllan ðænne deáð penitentiam malle quam mortem, Anglia xi. 119, 66. ¶ the present participle used with force of Latin forms in -dus :-- Gefeán ðære willendan gesynto

    cupitae sospitatis gaudia

    ,
      Bd. 4, 3; S. 570, 22.
with a clause
Show examples
  • Wilt ðú ðæt ic ðé secge? Salm. Kmbl. 506; Sal. 253.
  • Wilt ðú ðæt ic gelýfe? Blickl. Homl. 179, 35.

  • Ǽghwylc mon wile ðæt him Drihten selle ealle his þearfe,

      51, 15.

  • Hú hé wolde ðæt mon him miltsode,

      Past. 16 ; Swt. 101, 10.
  • Hé walde ðæt hí wǽren gedréfde, 58 ; Swt. 443, 11.

  • Wolde,

      Exon. Th. 74, 7 ; Cri. 1203.

  • Wé woldun ðú gesáwe ðæt . . . ,

      130, 16; Gú. 439.

  • Hi woldun, ðæt . . . ,

      123, 17; Gú. 324.

  • Hí willen ðæt him Dryhten tó hyra earfeða ende gerýme,

      115, 25; Gú. 195.

  • For ðý ic wolde ðæt hié ealneg æt ðære stówe wǽren,

      Past. pref. ; Swt. 9, 5.

  • For ðon hé ðis dyde ðæt hé wolde ðæt hié ne wǽron gedréfede,

      Blickl. Homl. 17, I. IVa. to like

  • Wolde ic freóndscipe ðínne, gif ic mihte, begitan,

      Andr. Kmbl. 956; An. 478.

  • Wolde ic ánes tó ðé cræftes neósan,

      966; An. 483.

  • Gif hæleþa hwone hlísan lyste, ðonne ic hine wolde biddan,

      Met. 10, 3.

  • Wolde ic, ðæt ðú funde ða,

      Elen. Kmbl. 2157; El. 1080.

  • Eall þing habbaþ ǽnne willan, ðæt is ðæt hí woldon á bión,

      Bt. 34, 12; Fox 152, 29.
to will, be willing to do something,
with an infinitive expressed or implied
Show examples

  • Gyf ðú wylt, ðú miht mé geclǽnsian . . . Ic wylle; beó geclǽnsod,

      Mt. Kmbl. 8, 2-3.

  • Gif ðú þeáh mínum wilt wordum hýran,

      Cd. Th. 35, 24; Gen. 559.

  • Wylt,

      Beo. Th. 3709; B. 1852.

  • Ne wylt ðú ofergeottul weorðan

    noli oblivisci

    .
      Ps. Th. 102, 2: 118, 31.

  • Ne wile Sarran gelýfan wordum mínum,

      Cd. Th. 144, 11; Gen. 2388: 161, 7; Gen. 2661.

  • Gif wit him geongordóm lǽstan willaþ,

      41, 27; Gen. 663.

  • Gif git ðæt fæsten fýre willaþ forstandan,

      152, 17; Gen. 2521.
  • Wille gé beón beswungen on leornunge? Coll. Monast. Th. 18, 18.
  • Gif ðú woldest myltsian, and swá þeáh ne mihtest . . . ðæt ðú ne mæge myltsían, þeáh ðú wylle. Homl. Skt. i. 3, 184-188.

  • Ne ðurfon wé ðæs wénan, ðæt wuldorcyning ǽfre wille eard áléfan,

      Cd. Th. 272, 7; Sat. 116: 281, 25; Sat. 277.

  • Ne willaþ eów andrǽdan,

      194, 25 ; Exod. 266.

  • Ic nú suna mínum syllan wolde (

    should be ready to give

    ) gúðgewǽdu, dǽr mé gifeðe ǽnig yrfeweard æfter wurde,
      Beo. Th. 5452; B. 2729.

  • Ðǽr ðú fromlíce freónda lárum hýran wolde,

      Exon. Th. 129, 22; Gú. 425.

  • Hié gehéton ðæt hiera kyning fulwiht onfón wolde,

      Chr. 878; Erl. 80, 18.

  • Hé cwæð ðæt hé wolde ðam wífe gemyltsian,

      Homl. Skt. i. 3, 179.

  • Hé getrúwode ðæt hié his giongorscipe fylgan wolden,

      Cd. Th. 16, 27; Gen. 249: 46, 15; Gen. 744.

  • Nymðe hié friðes wolde wilnian;. 229,

      9; Dan. 214.

  • Ðǽr hý hit tó góde ongietan woldan

    if they had been willing to understand it aright

    ,
      Exon. Th. 68, 22; Cri. 1107.

  • Gif ðú mínum wilt, wíf, willende wordum hýran, Cd. Th. 35, 25; Gen. 560. ¶ along with negative forms of the verb :-- Saga him swá hé wille, swá hé nelle, hé sceal cuman

    dic illi quia, velit nolet, debet venire

    ,
      Bd. 5, 9 ; S. 623, 11.

  • Wé sceolon, wylle wé nelle wé, árísan,

      Homl. Th. i. 532, 7.

  • Wé sceolon beón néde geþafan, sam wé willan, sam wé nyllan,

      Bt. 34, 12 ; Fox 154, 7.

  • Se brym hine bær, wolde he, nolde he,

      Homl. Th. ii. 388, 20.
with accusative,
to allow, permit, grant, consent to
Show examples

  • Ne willaþ hié rúmor unc landriht heora,

      Cd. Th. 114, 27; Gen. 1910.

  • Se cásere hine ðreátade ðæt hé Criste wiðsóce. Ðá hé ðæt ne walde,

      Shrn. 71, 33.

  • Ne ðæt wille God,

      Cd. Th. 114, 13; Gen. 1903.
with a clause
Show examples

  • Nó God wolde, ðæt sió sáwl sár þrowade,

      Exon. Th. 126, 29; Gú. 378.
to be disposed, to have such and such a will
Show examples

  • Ðæt man his Scyppend lufige and ða men ðe wel willaþ (

    the men that are of good will

    ).
      Homl. Skt. i. 16, 254.

  • Ðæt hé wiðstonde ðǽm. ðe on wóh wiellen (cf. ðám unryhtwillendum,

      89, 22), Past. 15; Swt. 91, 1.

  • Ðæt hé geornlíce fylste ðám ðe riht willan, and á hetelíce stýre ðam ðe þwyres willan,

      L. I. P. 2 ; Th. ii. 304, 17.
of habitual action
Show examples

  • Ða ingeðoncas ðe wealcaþ in ðæs monnes móde, ðe ǽfre willaþ licgean on ðæm eorðlícum gewilnungum

    quando cogitationes volvuntur in mente, quae a terrenis desideriis numquam levantur

    ,
      Past. 21; Swt. 155, 22.

  • Hé wolde æfter úhtsange oftost hine gebiddan and on cyrcan standan on syndrigum gebedum,

      Homl. Skt. ii. 26, 114.
  • Hwæþer gé willen on wuda sécan gold? Met. 19, 4.

  • Ðæt se láreów sceolde beón miehtig tó tyhtanne on hálwende láre, and eác tó ðreánne ða ðe him wiðstondan wiellen

    ut potens sit exhortari in doctrina sana, et eos, qui contradicunt, arguere

    ,
      Past. 15; Swt. 91, 16.
to will, profess, claim
Show examples

  • Hé wæs swá upáhafen, ðæt hé wolde beón god . . . wolde rénas wyrcan, swylce hé sylf god wǽre,

      Homl. Skt. ii. 27, 27-33.
as an auxiliary for the future,
will, shall, to be about to
Show examples

  • Gif hé mé cúð ne bið, ic wille him suíðe ræðe andwyrdan (

    protinus respondemus

    ),
      Past. 10; Swt. 63, 4.
  • Hwæt wille ic ðissum wiðersacan geandwyrdan? Homl. Th. i. 378, 11.

  • Hé wæs cweþende : ' Ic mé wille nú onhwyrfan tó ðisse bǽre . . . ' Ðá wæs hé gongende,

      Blickl. Homl. 151, 14.

  • Ic míne sáwle wylle Gode underþeódan

    nonne Deo subdita erit anima mea?

      Ps. Th. 61, 1.

  • Gif ðú úre unriht wilt behealdan

    si iniquitates observaveris

    ,
      129, 3.

  • Gif ðú ǽfre cymst tó ðære stówe, ðonne wilt ðú cweþan (

    dices

    ),
      Bt. 36, 2 ; Fox 174, 22 : Met. 24, 48.

  • Se ðe wyle sprecan

    loquuturus

    ,
      Ælfc. Gr. 41 ; Zup. 247, 15, 11: 248, 6.

  • Gif hiere ne bið sóna gestiéred, hió wile weahsan mid ungemete (

    sine mensura dilatatur

    ),
      Past. 11; Swt. 71, 16.

  • Ðæt wile þincan ungeleáflíc eallum ðæm ðe ða stówe on uferum tídum geseóð,

      Lchdm. iii. 438, 14.
  • Hwæþer hit hysecild ðe mǽdencild beón wille, ii. 172, 18.

  • Hé wyle naman ðínne herian

    laudabunt nomen tuum

    ,
      Ps. Th. 73, 20.

  • Hwá wyle mé gelǽdan?

    quis deducet me?

      59, 8.

  • Hwæt wille wé cweþan be ðínum sunum?

    quid dicam liberos?

      Bt. 10; Fox 28, 30: Homl. Skt. ii. 28, 117: Homl. Th. ii. 448, 13.

  • Hit wolde dagian

    the day was about to break

    ,
      Homl. Skt. i. 21, 123.

  • Hit ǽfnian wolde,

      23, 245.

  • His áðumum ðe woldon wífian on his dohtron

    generos suos, qui accepturi erant filias ejus

    ,
      Gen. 19, 14.

  • Wát ic ðæt ðú wile gilpan,

      Salm. Kmbl. 409; Sal. 205.

  • Hwæt God mǽlan wille

    quid loquatur Deus

    ,
      Ps. Th. 84, 7.

  • Ic wát ðætte wile woruldmen tweógan (cf. went eall moncyn on tweónunga,

      Bt. 4; Fox 8, 17), Met. 4, 51.

  • Ne hé sóðfæste lǽteþ ðæt hí tó unrihte willen handum rǽcean

    ut non extendant justi ad iniquitatem manus suas

    ,
      Ps. Th. 124, 4.

  • Wén is ðæt hí ús lifigende wyllen forsweolgan

    forsitan vivos deglutissent nos

    ,
      123, 2.

  • Swá ic ǽr sægde ðæt ic dón wolde,

      Blickl. Homl. 183, 29.

  • Ðeáh ðú onsóce ðæt ðú sóð godu lufian wolde,

      Exon. Th. 254, 10; Jul. 195.

  • Ðá Darius geseah ðæt hé oferwonnen beón wolde

    Darius cum vinci suos videret

    ,
      Ors. 3, 9; Swt. 128, 6: Blickl. Homl. 15, 34.
  • Hú wolde ðæt geweorðan? Elen. Kmbl. 909; El. 456.

  • Wén is ðæt hí ús woldan gesúpan forsitan absorbuissent nos. Ps. Th. 123, 3. IX a. without an infinitive :-- Hwænne ðú mé wylle tó quando venies ad me, Ps. Th. 100, l. Ǽr him se fefer tó wille. Lchdm. ii. 134, 24, 22. IXb. as optative :-- Wolde húru se earming hine sylfne beþencan, Homl. Skt. i. 19, 161. [Goth. wiljan; p. wilda: O. Sax. willian, wellian ; p. welda :

    O. Frs.

    willa, wella; p. wilde, welde, wolde: O. H. Ger. wellan, wollan; p. wolta : Icel. vilja ; p. vilda.]
Linked entries
v.  walde fǽcan.
Entry information
Citation

Bosworth, Joseph. “willan.” In An Anglo-Saxon Dictionary Online, edited by Thomas Northcote Toller, Christ Sean, and Ondřej Tichy. Prague: Faculty of Arts, Charles University, 2014. https://bosworthtoller.com/35772.

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  • willan, v.

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