nill

nill
verb Etymology: Middle English nilen, from Old English nyllan, from ne not + wyllan to wish — more at no, will Date: before 12th century intransitive verb archaic to be unwilling ; will not <
will you nill you, I will marry you — Shakespeare
>
transitive verb archaic refuse

New Collegiate Dictionary. 2001.

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  • Nill — ist der Name von Adolf Nill, deutscher Tierarzt und Zoobesitzer (Tiergarten Nill) Balts Nill (* 1953 als Ueli Balsiger), Schweizer Multiinstrumentalist und Journalist Jakob Nill (1875–1960), deutscher Politiker der SPD Jessica Nill (* 1979),… …   Deutsch Wikipedia

  • Nill — Nill, v. i. To be unwilling; to refuse to act. [1913 Webster] The actions of the will are velle and nolle, to will and nill. Burton. [1913 Webster] {Will he, nill he}, whether he wills it or not; usually contracted to {willy nilly}. [1913… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Nill — (n[i^]l), v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Nilled} (n[i^]ld); p. pr. & vb. n. {Nilling}.] [AS. nilan, nyllan; ne not + willan to will. See {No}, and {Will}.] Not to will; to refuse; to reject. [Obs.] [1913 Webster] Certes, said he, I nill thine offered grace …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Nill — Nill, n. [Cf. Ir. & Gael. neul star, light. Cf. {Nebula}.] 1. Shining sparks thrown off from melted brass. [1913 Webster] 2. Scales of hot iron from the forge. Knight. [1913 Webster] …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • nill — (v.) O.E. nylle, nelle to be unwilling, from ne no (see NO (Cf. no)) + WILL (Cf. will) (v.). Often paired with will; the construction in nill he, will he, once common, attested from c.1300, surviving principally in WILLY NILLY (Cf. willy nilly),… …   Etymology dictionary

  • nill — [nil] vt., vi. [ME nillen < OE nyllan < ne, not (see NO1) + willan (see WILL1)] Archaic not to will (something); refuse [will I, nill I]: see also WILLY NILLY …   English World dictionary

  • nill — mar·men·nill; nill; …   English syllables

  • nill — /nil/, v., nilled, nilling. Archaic. v.i. 1. to be unwilling: will he, nill he. v.t. 2. to refuse or reject. [bef. 900; ME nillen, OE nyllan, contr. of phrase ne willan; see NO1, WILL1, WILLY NILLY] * * * …   Universalium

  • nill — verb /nɪl/ a) To be unwilling. I here auow thee neuer to forsake. / Ill weares he armes, that nill them vse for Ladies sake. b) To reject, refuse, negate. with a lowde voys he cryed abyde knyght, for ye shal abyde whether ye will or nyll, and the …   Wiktionary

  • nill — [[t]nɪl[/t]] v. archaic 1) to be unwilling: will he, nill he[/ex] 2) to refuse or reject • Etymology: bef. 900; ME nillen, OE nyllan, contr. of phrase ne willan; see no I, will I, willy nilly …   From formal English to slang

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