From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:
Will \Will\, n. [OE. wille, AS. willa; akin to OFries. willa,
OS. willeo, willio, D. wil, G. wille, Icel. vili, Dan.
villie, Sw. vilja, Goth wilja. See {Will}, v.]
[1913 Webster]
1. The power of choosing; the faculty or endowment of the
soul by which it is capable of choosing; the faculty or
power of the mind by which we decide to do or not to do;
the power or faculty of preferring or selecting one of two
or more objects.
[1913 Webster]
It is necessary to form a distinct notion of what is
meant by the word "volition" in order to understand
the import of the word will, for this last word
expresses the power of mind of which "volition" is
the act. --Stewart.
[1913 Webster]
Will is an ambiguous word, being sometimes put for
the faculty of willing; sometimes for the act of
that faculty, besides [having] other meanings. But
"volition" always signifies the act of willing, and
nothing else. --Reid.
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Appetite is the will's solicitor, and the will is
appetite's controller; what we covet according to
the one, by the other we often reject. --Hooker.
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The will is plainly that by which the mind chooses
anything. --J. Edwards.
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2. The choice which is made; a determination or preference
which results from the act or exercise of the power of
choice; a volition.
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The word "will," however, is not always used in this
its proper acceptation, but is frequently
substituted for "volition", as when I say that my
hand mover in obedience to my will. --Stewart.
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3. The choice or determination of one who has authority; a
decree; a command; discretionary pleasure.
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Thy will be done. --Matt. vi.
10.
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Our prayers should be according to the will of God.
--Law.
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4. Strong wish or inclination; desire; purpose.
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Note: "Inclination is another word with which will is
frequently confounded. Thus, when the apothecary says,
in Romeo and Juliet,
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My poverty, but not my will, consents; . . .
Put this in any liquid thing you will,
And drink it off.
[1913 Webster] the word will is plainly used as,
synonymous with inclination; not in the strict logical
sense, as the immediate antecedent of action. It is
with the same latitude that the word is used in common
conversation, when we speak of doing a thing which duty
prescribes, against one's own will; or when we speak of
doing a thing willingly or unwillingly." --Stewart.
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5. That which is strongly wished or desired.
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What's your will, good friar? --Shak.
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The mariner hath his will. --Coleridge.
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6. Arbitrary disposal; power to control, dispose, or
determine.
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Deliver me not over unto the will of mine enemies.
--Ps. xxvii.
12.
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7. (Law) The legal declaration of a person's mind as to the
manner in which he would have his property or estate
disposed of after his death; the written instrument,
legally executed, by which a man makes disposition of his
estate, to take effect after his death; testament; devise.
See the Note under {Testament}, 1.
[1913 Webster]
Note: Wills are written or nuncupative, that is, oral. See
{Nuncupative will}, under {Nuncupative}.
[1913 Webster]
{At will} (Law), at pleasure. To hold an estate at the will
of another, is to enjoy the possession at his pleasure,
and be liable to be ousted at any time by the lessor or
proprietor. An estate at will is at the will of both
parties.
{Good will}. See under {Good}.
{Ill will}, enmity; unfriendliness; malevolence.
{To have one's will}, to obtain what is desired; to do what
one pleases.
{Will worship}, worship according to the dictates of the will
or fancy; formal worship. [Obs.]
{Will worshiper}, one who offers will worship. [Obs.] --Jer.
Taylor.
{With a will}, with willingness and zeal; with all one's
heart or strength; earnestly; heartily.
[1913 Webster]
From WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006) [wn]:
at will
adv 1: as one chooses or pleases; "he can roam the neighborhood
at will"
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