willan

Alternative forms

• wyllan

Etymology

From Proto-West Germanic *willjan, from Proto-Germanic *wiljaną.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˈwil.lɑn/, [ˈwiɫ.ɫɑn]

Verb

willan

1. to want, desire

   Hwæt wilt þū mā æt mē?

   What more do you want from me?

   • c. 995, Ælfric, Extracts on Grammar in English

     Iċ wille þæt þū rǣde.

     I want you to read.

   • c. 990, Wessex Gospels, Mark 10:51

     Hwæt wilt þū þæt iċ þē dō?

     What do you want me to do to you?

   • 10th century, the Blickling Homilies, "The Story of Peter and Paul"

     Hwæder wilt þū gangan?

     Where do you want to go?

   • late 10th century, Ælfric, "The Seven Sleepers"

     ...he wolde gan ut of ðam porte...

     ...he desired to go out of the town...

2. to intend

   Iċ wolde þæt dōn!

   I meant to do that!

   Ne breġd þū nǣfre þīn sweord būtan þū his notian wille.

   Never draw your sword unless you intend to use it.

3. to be willing
4. used to express habitual behavior
   • c. 992, Ælfric, "St. Oswald, King and Martyr"

     Hē wolde oftost æfter ūhtsange hine ġebiddan.

     He would most often pray after matins.

5. used to express futurity

   Hwæt lā wilt þū dōn, mē stingan?

   What are you gonna do, stab me?

6. to want or intend to go (to or from somewhere)

   Hū oft wolde iċ heonan onweġ?

   How many times have I wanted to get away from here?

   • late 10th century, Ælfric, the Old English Hexateuch, Genesis 32:17

     Hwæder willaþ ġē?

     Where are you guys going?

7. used in the subjunctive past to express hypotheticals, where Modern English would use "would"

   Hū wolde þē līcian ġif ic wisse ealle þīne dēagolnesse?

   How would you like it if I knew all your secrets?