will

/wəl/

Middle English (1st & 3rd singular present indicative), from Old English wille (infinitive wyllan); akin to Old High German wili (3rd singular present indicative) wills, Latin velle to wish, will

verb

  1. —used to express futurity

  2. —used to express desire, choice, willingness, consent, or in negative constructions refusal

  3. —used to express a command, exhortation, or injunction

noun

  1. a legal declaration of a person's wishes regarding the disposal of his or her property or estate after death; especially : a written instrument legally executed by which a person makes disposition of his or her estate to take effect after death

  2. desire, wish: such as

  3. disposition, inclination

verb

  1. to cause or change by an act of will; also : to try to do so

  2. intend, purpose

  3. decree, ordain

believed he could will himself to succeed