| ← Older revision | Revision as of 15:21, 26 September 2011 |
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| | ====Verb==== | | ====Verb==== |
| - | {{en-verb|inf=-|will|willing|would|-}} | + | {{en-verb|inf=-|will|willing|would|-}}; present participle applies to senses 1 and 2 only |
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| | # {{obsolete|transitive}} To [[wish]], [[desire]] (something). {{defdate|9th-18th c.}} | | # {{obsolete|transitive}} To [[wish]], [[desire]] (something). {{defdate|9th-18th c.}} |
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| | #* '''1621''', Robert Burton, ''The Anatomy of Melancholy'': | | #* '''1621''', Robert Burton, ''The Anatomy of Melancholy'': |
| | #*: see God's goodwill toward men, hear how generally his grace is proposed, to him, and him, and them, each man in particular, and to all. 1 Tim. ii. 4. "God '''will''' that all men be saved, and come to the knowledge of the truth." | | #*: see God's goodwill toward men, hear how generally his grace is proposed, to him, and him, and them, each man in particular, and to all. 1 Tim. ii. 4. "God '''will''' that all men be saved, and come to the knowledge of the truth." |
| - | # To [[habitually]] do (a given action). {{defdate|from 9th c.}} | + | # {{auxiliary}} To [[habitually]] do (a given action). {{defdate|from 9th c.}} |
| | #* '''1994''', Nelson Mandela, ''Long Walk to Freedom'', Abacus 2010, p. 28: | | #* '''1994''', Nelson Mandela, ''Long Walk to Freedom'', Abacus 2010, p. 28: |
| | #*: As young men '''will''', I did my best to appear suave and sophisticated. | | #*: As young men '''will''', I did my best to appear suave and sophisticated. |
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| | #* '''2011''', "Connubial bliss in America", ''The Economist'': | | #* '''2011''', "Connubial bliss in America", ''The Economist'': |
| | #*: So far neither side has scored a decisive victory, though each '''will''' occasionally claim one. | | #*: So far neither side has scored a decisive victory, though each '''will''' occasionally claim one. |
| - | # To [[choose]] to (do something), used to express intention but without any temporal connotations (+ bare infinitive). {{defdate|from 10th c.}} | + | # {{auxiliary}} To [[choose]] to (do something), used to express intention but without any temporal connotations (+ bare infinitive). {{defdate|from 10th c.}} |
| - | # {{auxiliary}} Used to express the future tense, formerly with some implication of volition, especially in first-person. Compare {{term|shall}}. {{defdate|from 10th c.}} | + | # {{auxiliary}} Used to express the future tense, formerly with some implication of volition (especially in first-person). Compare {{term|shall}}. {{defdate|from 10th c.}} |
| | #* {{rfdate}} William Shakespeare, ''Twelfth Night Or What You Will'', act IV: | | #* {{rfdate}} William Shakespeare, ''Twelfth Night Or What You Will'', act IV: |
| | #*: Good fool, as ever thou wilt deserve well at my hand, help me to a candle, and pen, ink and paper : as I am a gentleman, I '''will''' live to be thankful to thee for't. | | #*: Good fool, as ever thou wilt deserve well at my hand, help me to a candle, and pen, ink and paper : as I am a gentleman, I '''will''' live to be thankful to thee for't. |
| | #* {{rfdate}} Alexandre Dumas, ''The Count of Monte Cristo'', chapter LXXIII: | | #* {{rfdate}} Alexandre Dumas, ''The Count of Monte Cristo'', chapter LXXIII: |
| | #*: "I '''will''' rejoin you, and we '''will''' fly ; but from this moment until then, let us not tempt Providence, Morrel; let us not see each other; it is a miracle, it is a providence that we have not been discovered; if we were surprised, if it were known that we met thus, we should have no further resource." | | #*: "I '''will''' rejoin you, and we '''will''' fly ; but from this moment until then, let us not tempt Providence, Morrel; let us not see each other; it is a miracle, it is a providence that we have not been discovered; if we were surprised, if it were known that we met thus, we should have no further resource." |
| - | # To be able to, to have the capacity to. {{defdate|from 14th c.}} | + | # {{auxiliary}} To be able to, to have the capacity to. {{defdate|from 14th c.}} |
| | #: ''Unfortunately, only one of these gloves '''will''' actually fit over my hand.'' | | #: ''Unfortunately, only one of these gloves '''will''' actually fit over my hand.'' |
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| | * Historically, the present tense is '''will''' and the past tense is '''[[would]]'''. | | * Historically, the present tense is '''will''' and the past tense is '''[[would]]'''. |
| | * See the usage note at '''[[shall]]'''. | | * See the usage note at '''[[shall]]'''. |
| - | * Early Modern English had a past participle '''[[would]]''' which is now obsolete. | + | |
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| | =====See also===== | | =====See also===== |
