velleity

[Fr. velléité, as if from a Latin velleitatem, acc us. of velleitas, from velle to wish.] Inclination in the way of volition; an indolent or inactive wish or inclination toward a thing, but unaccompanied by any energetic effort to obtain it. this cure." Bp. Hall: Cont.; Deaf and Dumb Man Cured. "The least act of velleity from thee might have wrought *vel-len-age, s. [VILLENAGE.] *věl'-lět, *vel-et, s. & a. [VELVET.] věl-li-cāte, v. t. & i. [Lat. vell i cat us, pa. par. of vellico; freq. from vello to pull.] A. Trans.: To twitch, to pluck; to cause to twitch convulsively; applied to the muscles and fibers of animals. "Bodies which are rough and angular, rouse and vell i cate the organs of feeling."- Burke : Sublime and Beauti ful , § 20. B. In trans.: To twitch; to move spasmodically, věl-li-ca-tion, s. [Lat, vellicatio , from vell i cat us , pa. par. of vellico .] [VELLICATE.] 1. The act of twitching or of causing to twitch. 2. A twitching; a convulsive or spasmodic movement of muscular fiber. "And therefore we see that almost all purgers have a kind of twitching and vellication , besides the griping which cometh of wind."- Bacon : Nat . Hist ., § 37.