will

I

(New American Roget's College Thesaurus)

I

n. volition, purpose, determination (See will); testament, bequeathal (see giving).

II

Volition

Nouns — will, free will, volition, conation, velleity; freedom, discretion; option, choice; voluntariness, spontaneity, spontaneousness; pleasure, wish, mind; frame of mind, disposition, proclivity, inclination, willingness, readiness, willing mind or heart; intention, predetermination; self-control, determination, resolution.

Verbs — will, see fit, think fit; determine, resolve, settle, choose, volunteer; have a will of one's own; have one's own way; exercise one's discretion; take responsibility; take upon oneself, find it in one's heart; do of one's own accord.

Adjectives

1. voluntary, volitional, willful, intentional; free, optional; discretionary; prepense; intended; arbitrary; autocratic; unbidden, unspontaneous; original (see cause).

2. willing, minded, disposed, inclined, favorable; favorably inclined or disposed to; nothing loath; in the mood or humor; ready, forward, earnest, eager; bent upon, desirous, predisposed; voluntary, unasked, unforced.

Adverbs

1. voluntarily, at will, at pleasure; ad libitum, as one thinks proper, according to one's lights; with good grace; of one's own accord or free will; by choice, purposely, intentionally, deliberately.

2. willingly, fain, freely; heart and soul; with pleasure, nothing loath, graciously, without reluctance, of one's own accord.

Phrases — a willful man must have his way; where there's a will there's a way; you can take a horse to [the] water, but you can't make him drink.

Quotations — The good or ill of man lies within his own will (Epictetus), If you will it, it is no dream (Theodor Herzl), Will and wisdom are both mighty leaders. Our times worship will (Clarence Darrow), We have to believe in free will. We've got no choice (Isaac Bashevis Singer).

Antonyms, see necessity, unwillingness.

II

(Roget's IV) n.

1. [DeSire]

Syn. inclination, wish, disposition, pleasure, yearning, craving, longing, hankering.

Ant. command*, indifference, distaste.

2. [Command]

Syn. order, insistence, decree; see command 1 , directions .

3. [Conscious power]

Syn. resolution, volition, intention, will power, preference, mind, determination, self-determination, decisiveness, moral strength, discretion, conviction, willfulness.

Ant. doubt*, vacillation, indecision.

4. [Testament for the disposition of property]

Syn. bequest, disposition, instructions, last wishes, bestowal, dispensation, last will and testament.

• at will,

Syn. whenever one wishes, at any time, ad libitum (Latin); see any time .

Syn.- will , the more inclusive term here, basically denotes the power of choice and deliberate action or the intention resulting from the exercise of this power [ freedom of the will , the will to succeed ] ; volition stresses the exercise of the will in making a choice or decision [ he came of his own volition] v.

1. [To exert one's will]

Syn. decree, order, command, demand, authorize, request, make oneself felt, decide upon, insist, direct, enjoin.

2. [To wish]

Syn. want, incline to, prefer; see wish 2 .

3. [An indication of futurity]

Syn. shall, would, should, expect to, anticipate, look forward to, hope to, await, foresee, propose.

III

(Roget's 3 Superthesaurus)

I

n.

1. power of choice choice, decision, desire, want, wish, determination, conviction, volition, prerogative, intention, mind, preference, discretion, command, decree.

2. resolve willpower, determination, single-mindedness, commitment.

3. documentdisposing of wealth after death bequest, legacy, testament, last will and testament, dispensation.

II

v.

desire, wish, choose, want, determine, demand, command, direct.

IV

(Roget's Thesaurus II) I noun 1. The mental faculty by which one deliberately chooses or decides: volition. See WILLING. 2. Unwavering firmness of character, action, or will: decidedness, decision, decisiveness, determination, firmness, purpose, purposefulness, resoluteness, resolution, resolve, toughness, willpower. See CERTAIN, STRONG. 3. A desire for a particular thing or activity: fancy, liking, mind, pleasure. See LIKE. 4. Unrestricted freedom to choose: discretion, pleasure. See FREE. II verb 1. To have the desire or inclination to: choose, desire, like1, please, want, wish. Idioms: have a mind, see fit. See DESIRE. 2. To give (property) to another person after one's death: leave1. Law: bequeath, devise. See GIVE, LAW.