wilfulheadt (wilfulhed)

[ME. wilfulhed; nacy. And nat be lyk tiraunts of Lumbardye, That usen wilfulhed and tirannye. Chaucer, Good Women (1st version), 1. 355. = 6926 willen OHG. well an, wollan, MHG. wellen, wollen, G. wollen = Icel. vilja = Sw. vilja = Dan. ville = Goth. wiljan (pret. wild a ) = OBulg. voliti, will, velieti, command, = Ru , velieti, command, etc., = Lith. woliti, will, = L. velle (pres. ind. volo ), wish. Prob. not connected, as usually a erted, with Gr. βούλεσθαι, will, wish, or with Skt. var, choose, select, prefer. From the same source are ult. E. will2, wale2, wiln, well2, weall, wild, wilful, etc. From the L. verb are ult. E. volition, voluntary, volunteer, volunty, voluptuary, etc., nolens volens, etc.] A. As an independent verb. I. trans. To wish; desire; want; be will ing to have (a certain thing done): now chiefly used in the subjunctive (optative) preterit form would governing a clause: as, I would that the [Rare.] Great King, no more bay with thy wilful lings His wrath's dread Torrent. Sylvester, tr. of Du Bartas's Weeks, ii., The Lawe. wilfully, willfully (wil'fül-i), adv . [ wilfulli , wylfully , wilfulliche; wilful + -ly2.] 11. Of free will or choice; willingly; voluntarily; gladly; readily. Fede ye the flok of God that is among you, and purvey ye, not as constreyned, but wilfulli . Wyclif , 1 Pet. v. 2. Be nouzte aba hed to bydde and to be nedy: Syth he that wrouzte al the worlde was wilful lich nedy. Piers Plowman (B), xx. 48. Trowe ye that whyles I may preche, And winne gold and silver for I tec he, That I wol lyve in povert wilfully . Chaucer, Prol. to Pardoner's Tale, 1. 155. They wilfully themselves exile from light. Shak., M. N. D., iii. 2. 386. 2. By design; with set purpose; intentionally; especially, in a wilful manner; as following one's own will; selfishly; perversely; obstinately; stubbornly. For he that winketh whan he sholde see, Al wilfully , God lat him never thee. Chaucer, Nun's Priest's Tale, 1. 612. The mother, being determinately, lest I should say of a great lady wilfully , bent to marry her to Dem agoras, tried all ways. Sir P. Sidney , Arcadia, i. Surely of such desperat persons as will willfully followe the course of theyr owne follye there is noe compa ion to be had. Spenser, State of Ireland. If we sin wilfully after that we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remain eth no more sacrifice for sins. Heb. x. 26. Religion is a matter of our freest choice; and if men will obstinately and wilfully set themselves against it, there is no remedy. Til lots on . 3. In law, wilfully is sometimes interpreted to mean-( a ) by an act or an omi ion done of purpose, with intent to bring about a certain result; or ( b ) with implication of evil intent or legal malice, or with absence of reasonable ground for believing the act in question to be lawful.