Definition of 'nill'
English
Etymology 1
From (etyl) nillen, from (etyl) nillan, nellan, . Cognate with (etyl) nelle.
Verb
To be unwilling; will not (+ infinitive ).
*1590 , (Edmund Spenser), (The Faerie Queen) , III.v:
*:I here auow thee neuer to forsake. / Ill weares he armes, that nill them vse for Ladies sake.
*1600 , (Edward Fairfax), The (Jerusalem Delivered) of (w), XII, lxi:
*:What I nill tell you ask (quoth she) in vain, / Nor mov'd by prayer, nor constrain'd by power.
To be unwilling.
*:
*:So the knight of Ireland armed him at all points,, and rode after a great pace, as much as his horse might go; and within a little space on a mountain he had a sight of Balin, and with a loud voice he cried, Abide, knight, for ye shall abide whether ye will or nill , and the shield that is to-fore you shall not help.
*:• :
*::Soo the knyght of Irelonde armed hym at al poyntes /and rode after a grete paas as moche as his hors myght goo / and within a lytel space on a montayne he had a syghte of Balyn / and with a lowde voys he cryed abyde knyght / for ye shal abyde whether ye will or nyll / and the sheld that is to fore you shalle not helpe
*1955 , , (The Lord of the Rings) (Appendices):
*:I must indeed abide the Doom of Men, whether I will or I nill .
To reject, refuse, negate.
*1590 , (Edmund Spenser), (The Faerie Queen) , II.vii:
*:Certes (said he) I n’ill thine offred grace, / Ne to be made so happy do intend.
Derived terms
* willy-nilly
Etymology 2
Compare Irish and Gaelic (neul) star, light. Compare (nebula).
Noun
Shining sparks thrown off from melted brass.
Scales of hot iron from the forge.
- (Knight)
English auxiliary verbs
