Chapter V: Moth (12)

Defn: Resembling a whore in character or conduct; addicted to unlawful pleasures; incontinent; lewd; unchaste. -- Whor"ish*ly, adv. -- Whor"ish*ness, n.

WHORL Whorl, n. Etym: [OE. whorvil the whirl of a spindle; akin to AS. hweorfa the whirl of a spindle, hweorfan to turn; cf. OD. worvel the whirl of a spindle. See Whirl, n. & v.]

1. (Bot.)

Defn: A circle of two or more leaves, flowers, or other organs, about the same part or joint of a stem.

2. (Zoöl.)

Defn: A volution, or turn, of the spire of a univalve shell.

3. (Spinning)

Defn: The fly of a spindle.

WHORLED Whorled, a.

Defn: Furnished with whorls; arranged in the form of a whorl or whorls; verticillate; as, whorled leaves.

WHORLER Whorl"er, n.

Defn: A potter's wheel.

WHORT Whort, n. Etym: [See Whortleberry.] (Bot.)

Defn: The whortleberry, or bilberry. See Whortleberry (a).

WHORTLE Whor"tle, n. (Bot.)

Defn: The whortleberry, or bilberry. [He] looked ahead of him from behind a tump of whortles. R. D. Blackmore.

WHORTLEBERRY Whor"tle*ber`ry, n. Etym: [AS. wyrtil a small shrub (dim. of wyrt wort) + E. berry. See Wort, and cf. Huckleberry, Hurtleberry.] (Bot.) (a) In England, the fruit of Vaccinium Myrtillus; also, the plant itself. See Bilberry, 1. (b) The fruit of several shrubby plants of the genus Gaylussacia; also, any one of these plants. See Huckleberry.

WHOSE Whose, pron. Etym: [OE. whos, whas, AS. hwæs, gen. of hwa. See Who.]

Defn: The possessive case of who or which. See Who, and Which. Whose daughter art thou tell me, I pray thee. Gen. xxiv. 23. The question whose solution I require. Dryden.

WHOSESOEVER Whose`so*ev"er, pron.

Defn: The possessive of whosoever. See Whosoever.

WHOSO Who"so, pron.

Defn: Whosoever. Piers Plowman. Whoso shrinks or falters now, . . . Brand the craven on his brow! Whittier.

WHOSOEVER Who`so*ev"er, pron.

Defn: Whatsoever person; any person whatever that; whoever. Whosoever will, let him take . . . freely. Rev. xxii. 17.

WHOT Whot, a.

Defn: Hot. [Obs.] Spenser.

WHUR Whur, v. i. Etym: [Probably of imitative origin. Cf. Hurr, Hurry, Whir.]

1. To make a rough, humming sound, like one who pronounces the letter r with too much force; to whir; to birr.

2. To snarl or growl, as a dog. Halliwell.

WHUR Whur, n.

Defn: A humming or whirring sound, like that of a body moving through the air with velocity; a whir.

WHURRY Whur"ry, v. t. Etym: [See Hurry.]

Defn: To whisk along quickly; to hurry. [R.] Whurrying the chariot with them to the shore. Vicars.

WHURT Whurt, n. (Bot.)

Defn: See Whort.

WHY Why, adv. Etym: [OE. whi, why, AS. hwi, hw, instrumental case of hwa, hwæt; akin to Icel. hvi why, Dan. & Sw. hvi; cf. Goth. hw. Who.]

1. For what cause, reason, or purpose; on what account; wherefore; -- used interrogatively. See the Note under What, pron., 1. Turn ye, turn ye from your evil ways; for why will ye die, O house of Israel Ezek. xxxiii. 11.

2. For which; on account of which; -- used relatively. No ground of enmity between us known Why he should mean me ill or seek to harm. Milton. Turn the discourse; I have a reason why I would not have you speak so tenderly. Dryden.

3. The reason or cause for which; that on account of which; on what account; as, I know not why he left town so suddenly; -- used as a compound relative.

Note: Why is sometimes used as an interjection or an expletive in expression of surprise or content at a turn of affairs; used also in calling. "Why, Jessica!" Shak. If her chill heart I can not move, Why, I'll enjoy the very love. Cowley. Sometimes, also, it is used as a noun. The how and the why and the where. Goldsmith. For why, because; why. See Forwhy. [Obs. or Colloq.]

WHY Why, n.

Defn: A young heifer. [Prov. Eng.] Grose.

WHYDAH BIRD; WHYDAH FINCH Whyd"ah bird`, or Whyd"ah finch`. (Zoöl.)

Defn: The whidah bird.

WHY-NOT Why"-not`, n.

Defn: A violent and peremptory procedure without any assigned reason; a sudden conclusive happening. [Obs.] When the church Was taken with a why-not in the lurch. Hudibras. This game . . . was like to have been lost with a why-not. Nugæ Antiq.

WICH Wich, n.

Defn: A variant of 1st Wick.

WICHITAS Wich"i*tas, n. pl.; sing. Wichita (. (Ethnol.)

Defn: A tribe of Indians native of the region between the Arkansas and Red rivers. They are related to the Pawnees. See Pawnees.

WICK; WICH Wick, or Wich, n. Etym: [AS. wic village, fr. L. vicus. In some names of places, perhaps fr. Icel. vik an inlet, creek, bay. See Vicinity, and cf. Villa.]

1. A street; a village; a castle; a dwelling; a place of work, or exercise of authority; -- now obsolete except in composition; as, bailiwick, Warwick, Greenwick. Stow.

2. (Curling)

Defn: A narrow port or passage in the rink or course, flanked by the stones of previous players.

WICK Wick, n. Etym: [OE. wicke, weyke, weke, AS. weoca or wecca; cf. D. wiek a roll of lint, Prov. G. wicke, and wieche, OHG. wiohha, Sw. veke, Dan. væge; of uncertain origin.]

Defn: A bundle of fibers, or a loosely twisted or braided cord, tape, or tube, usually made of soft spun cotton threads, which by capillary attraction draws up a steady supply of the oil in lamps, the melted tallow or wax in candles, or other material used for illumination, in small successive portions, to be burned. But true it is, that when the oil is spent The light goes out, and wick is thrown away. Spenser.

WICK Wick, v. i. (Curling)

Defn: To strike a stone in an oblique direction. Jamieson.

WICKE Wick"e, a.

Defn: Wicked. [Obs.] Piers Plowman. "With full wikke intent." Chaucer.

WICKED Wicked, a.

Defn: Having a wick; -- used chiefly in composition; as, a two-wicked lamp.

WICKED Wick"ed a. Etym: [OE. wicked, fr. wicke wicked; probably originally the same word as wicche wizard, witch. See Witch.]

1. Evil in principle or practice; deviating from morality; contrary to the moral or divine law; addicted to vice or sin; sinful; immoral; profligate; -- said of persons and things; as, a wicked king; a wicked woman; a wicked deed; wicked designs. Hence, then, and evil go with thee along, Thy offspring, to the place of evil, hell, Thou and thy wicked crew! Milton. Never, never, wicked man was wise. Pope.

2. Cursed; baneful; hurtful; bad; pernicious; dangerous. [Obs.] "Wicked dew." Shak. This were a wicked way, but whoso had a guide. P. Plowman.

3. Ludicrously or sportively mischievous; disposed to mischief; roguish. [Colloq.] Pen looked uncommonly wicked. Thackeray.

Syn. -- Iniquitous; sinful; criminal; guilty; immoral; unjust; unrighteous; unholy; irreligious; ungodly; profane; vicious; pernicious; atrocious; nefarious; heinous; flagrant; flagitious; abandoned. See Iniquitous.

WICKEDLY Wick"ed*ly, adv.

Defn: In a wicked manner; in a manner, or with motives and designs, contrary to the divine law or the law of morality; viciously; corruptly; immorally. I have sinned, and I have done wickedly. 2 Sam. xxiv. 17.

WICKEDNESS Wick"ed*ness, n.

1. The quality or state of being wicked; departure from the rules of the divine or the moral law; evil disposition or practices; immorality; depravity; sinfulness. God saw that the wickedness of man was great. Gen. vi. 5. Their inward part is very wickedness. Ps. v. 9.

2. A wicked thing or act; crime; sin; iniquity. I'll never care what wickedness I do, If this man comes to good. Shak.

WICKEN TREE Wick"en tree`.

Defn: Same as Quicken tree.

WICKER Wick"er, n. Etym: [OE. wiker, wikir, osier, probably akin to AS. wican to give way. Cf. Weak.]

1. A small pliant twig or osier; a rod for making basketwork and the like; a withe.

2. Wickerwork; a piece of wickerwork, esp. a basket. Then quick did dress His half milk up for cheese, and in a press Of wicker pressed it. Chapman.

3. Same as 1st Wike. [Prov. Eng.]

WICKER Wick"er, a.

Defn: Made of, or covered with, twigs or osiers, or wickerwork. Each one a little wicker basket had, Made of fine twigs, entrailéd curiously. Spenser.

WICKERED Wick"ered, a.

Defn: Made of, secured by, or covered with, wickers or wickerwork. Ships of light timber, wickered with osier between, and covered over with leather. Milton.

WICKERWORK Wick"er*work`, n.

Defn: A texture of osiers, twigs, or rods; articles made of such a texture.

WICKET Wick"et, n. Etym: [OE. wiket, OF. wiket, guichet, F. quichet; probably of Scand. origin; cf. Icel. v a small creek, inlet, bay, vik a corner.]

1. A small gate or door, especially one forming part of, or placed near, a larger door or gate; a narrow opening or entrance cut in or beside a door or gate, or the door which is used to close such entrance or aperture. Piers Plowman. "Heaven's wicket." Milton. And so went to the high street, . . . and came to the great tower, but the gate and wicket was fast closed. Ld. Berners. The wicket, often opened, knew the key. Dryden.

2. A small gate by which the chamber of canal locks is emptied, or by which the amount of water passing to a water wheel is regulated.

3. (Cricket) (a) A small framework at which the ball is bowled. It consists of three rods, or stumps, set vertically in the ground, with one or two short rods, called bails, lying horizontally across the top. (b) The ground on which the wickets are set.

4. A place of shelter made of the boughs of trees, -- used by lumbermen, etc. [Local, U. S.] Bartlett.

5. (Mining)

Defn: The space between the pillars, in postand-stall working. Raymond. Wicket door, Wicket gate, a small door or gate; a wicket. See def. 1, above. Bunyan. -- Wicket keeper (Cricket), the player who stands behind the wicket to catch the balls and endeavor to put the batsman out.

WICKING Wick"ing, n.

Defn: the material of which wicks are made; esp., a loosely braided or twisted cord or tape of cotton.

WICKIUP WICKYUP { Wick"i*up Wick"y*up }, n.

Defn: Vars of Wikiup.

WICLIFITE; WICKLIFFITE Wic"lif*ite, Wick"liff*ite, n.

Defn: See Wyclifite.

WICOPY Wic"o*py, n. (Bot.)

Defn: See Leatherwood.

WIDAL'S TEST; WIDAL TEST; WIDAL'S REACTION; WIDAL REACTION Wi*dal's", or Wi*dal", test or reaction . [After Fernand Widal (b. 1862), French physician.] (Med.)

Defn: A test for typhoid fever based on the fact that blood serum of one affected, in a bouillon culture of typhoid bacilli, causes the bacilli to agglutinate and lose their motility.

WIDDY Wid"dy, n. Etym: [Cf. Withy.]

Defn: A rope or halter made of flexible twigs, or withes, as of birch. [Scot.]

WIDE Wide, a. [Compar. Wider; superl. Widest.] Etym: [OE. wid, wyde, AS. wid; akin to OFries. & OS. wid, D. wijd, G. weit, OHG. wit, Icel. vi\'ebr, Sw. & Dan. vid; of uncertain origin.]

1. Having considerable distance or extent between the sides; spacious across; much extended in a direction at right angles to that of length; not narrow; broad; as, wide cloth; a wide table; a wide highway; a wide bed; a wide hall or entry. The chambers and the stables weren wyde. Chaucer. Wide is the gate . . . that leadeth to destruction. Matt. vii. 18.

2. Having a great extent every way; extended; spacious; broad; vast; extensive; as, a wide plain; the wide ocean; a wide difference. "This wyde world." Chaucer. For sceptered cynics earth were far too wide a den. Byron. When the wide bloom, on earth that lies, Seems of a brighter world than ours. Bryant.

3. Of large scope; comprehensive; liberal; broad; as, wide views; a wide understanding. Men of strongest head and widest culture. M. Arnold.

4. Of a certain measure between the sides; measuring in a direction at right angles to that of length; as, a table three feet wide.

5. Remote; distant; far. The contrary being so wide from the truth of Scripture and the attributes of God. Hammond.

6. Far from truth, from propriety, from necessity, or the like. "Our wide expositors." Milton. It is far wide that the people have such judgments. Latimer. How wide is all this long pretense ! Herbert.

7. On one side or the other of the mark; too far side-wise from the mark, the wicket, the batsman, etc. Surely he shoots wide on the bow hand. Spenser. I was but two bows wide. Massinger.

8. (Phon.)

Defn: Made, as a vowel, with a less tense, and more open and relaxed, condition of the mouth organs; -- opposed to primary as used by Mr. Bell, and to narrow as used by Mr. Sweet. The effect, as explained by Mr. Bell, is due to the relaxation or tension of the pharynx; as explained by Mr. Sweet and others, it is due to the action of the tongue. The wide of e (eve) is î (îll); of a (ate) is ê (ênd), etc. See Guide to Pronunciation, § 13-15.

Note: Wide is often prefixed to words, esp. to participles and participial adjectives, to form self-explaining compounds; as, wide- beaming, wide-branched, wide-chopped, wide-echoing, wide-extended, wide-mouthed, wide-spread, wide-spreading, and the like. Far and wide. See under Far. -- Wide gauge. See the Note under Cauge, 6.

WIDE Wide, adv. Etym: [As. w.]

1. To a distance; far; widely; to a great distance or extent; as, his fame was spread wide. [I] went wyde in this world, wonders to hear. Piers Plowman.

2. So as to leave or have a great space between the sides; so as to form a large opening. Shak.

3. So as to be or strike far from, or on one side of, an object or purpose; aside; astray.

WIDE Wide, n.

1. That which is wide; wide space; width; extent. "The waste wide of that abyss." Tennyson.

2. That which goes wide, or to one side of the mark.

WIDE-ANGLE Wide"-an`gle, a. (Photog. & Optics)

Defn: Having or covering an angle wider than the ordinary; -- applied to certain lenses of relatively short focus. Lenses for ordinary purposes have an angle of 50º or less. Wide-angle lenses may cover as much as 100º and are useful for photographing at short range, but the pictures appear distorted.

WIDE-AWAKE Wide`-a*wake", a.

Defn: Fully awake; not Dickens.

WIDE-AWAKE Wide`-a*wake", n.

Defn: A broad-brimmed, low-crowned felt hat.

WIDEGAP Wide"gap`, n. (Zoöl.)

Defn: The angler; -- called also widegab, and widegut.

WIDELY Wide"ly, adv.

1. In a wide manner; to a wide degree or extent; far; extensively; as, the gospel was widely disseminated by the apostles.

2. Very much; to a great degree or extent; as, to differ widely in opinion.

WIDEN Wid"en, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Widened; p. pr. & vb. n. Widening.]

Defn: To make wide or wider; to extend in breadth; to increase the width of; as, to widen a field; to widen a breach; to widen a stocking.

WIDEN Wid"en, v. i.

Defn: To grow wide or wider; to enlarge; to spread; to extend. Arches widen, and long aisles extend. Pope.

WIDENESS Wide"ness, n.

1. The quality or state of being wide; breadth; width; great extent from side to side; as, the wideness of a room. "I landed in a small creek about the wideness of my canoe." Swift.

2. Large extent in all directions; broadness; greatness; as, the wideness of the sea or ocean.

WIDESPREAD Wide"spread`, a.

Defn: Spread to a great distance; widely extended; extending far and wide; as, widespread wings; a widespread movement.

WIDEWHERE Wide"where`, adv. Etym: [See Wide, and Where.]

Defn: Widely; far and wide. [Obs.] Chaucer.

WIDGEON Widg"eon, n. Etym: [Probably from an old French form of F. vigeon, vingeon, gingeon; of uncertain origin; cf. L. vipio, -onis, a kind of small crane.] (Zoöl.)

Defn: Any one of several species of fresh-water ducks, especially those belonging to the subgenus Mareca, of the genus Anas. The common European widgeon (Anas penelope) and the American widgeon (A. Americana) are the most important species. The latter is called also baldhead, baldpate, baldface, baldcrown, smoking duck, wheat, duck, and whitebelly. Bald-faced, or Green-headed, widgeon, the American widgeon. -- Black widgeon, the European tufted duck. -- Gray widgeon. (a) The gadwall. (b) The pintail duck. -- Great headed widgeon, the poachard. -- Pied widgeon. (a) The poachard. (b) The goosander. Saw-billed widgeon, the merganser. -- Sea widgeon. See in the Vocabulary. -- Spear widgeon, the goosander. [Prov. Eng.] -- Spoonbilled widgeon, the shoveler. -- White widgeon, the smew. -- Wood widgeon, the wood duck.

WIDISH Wid"ish, a.

Defn: Moderately wide. Tyndall.

WIDMANSTATTEN FIGURES; WIDMANSTAETTEN FIGURES Wid"man*stät`ten fig"ures. (Min.)

Defn: Certain figures appearing on etched meteoric iron; -- so called after A. B. Widmanstätten, of Vienna, who first described them in 1808. See the Note and Illust. under Meteorite.

WIDOW Wid"ow, n. Etym: [OE. widewe, widwe, AS. weoduwe, widuwe, wuduwe; akin to OFries. widwe, OS. widowa, D. weduwe, G. wittwe, witwe, OHG. wituwa, witawa, Goth. widuw, Russ. udova, OIr. fedb, W. gweddw, L. vidua, Skr. vidhava; and probably to Skr. vidh to be empty, to lack; cf. Gr. Vidual.]

Defn: A woman who has lost her husband by death, and has not married again; one living bereaved of a husband. "A poor widow." Chaucer. Grass widow. See under Grass. -- Widow bewitched, a woman separated from her husband; a grass widow. [Colloq.] Widow-in-mourning (Zoöl.), the macavahu. -- Widow monkey (Zoöl.), a small South American monkey (Callithrix lugens); -- so called on account of its color, which is black except the dull whitish arms, neck, and face, and a ring of pure white around the face. -- Widow's chamber (Eng. Law), in London, the apparel and furniture of the bedchamber of the widow of a freeman, to which she was formerly entitled.

WIDOW Wid"ow, a.

Defn: Widowed. "A widow woman." 1 Kings xvii. 9. "This widow lady." Shak.

WIDOW Wid"ow, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Widowed; p. pr. & vb. n. Widowing.]

1. To reduce to the condition of a widow; to bereave of a husband; -- rarely used except in the past participle. Though in thus city he Hath widowed and unchilded many a one, Which to this hour bewail the injury. Shak.

2. To deprive of one who is loved; to strip of anything beloved or highly esteemed; to make desolate or bare; to bereave. The widowed isle, in mourning, Dries up her tears. Dryden. Tress of their shriveled fruits Are widowed, dreary storms o'er all prevail. J. Philips. Mourn, widowed queen; forgotten Sion, mourn. Heber.

3. To endow with a widow's right. [R.] Shak.

4. To become, or survive as, the widow of. [Obs.] Let me be married to three kings in a forenoon, and widow them all. Shak.

WIDOW BIRD Wid"ow bird`. (Zoöl.)

Defn: See Whidan bird.

WIDOWER Wid"ow*er, n.

Defn: A man who has lost his wife by death, and has not married again. Shak.

WIDOWERHOOD Wid"ow*er*hood, n.

Defn: The state of being a widower.

WIDOWHOOD Wid"ow*hood, n.

1. The state of being a widow; the time during which a woman is widow; also, rarely, the state of being a widower. Johnson clung to her memory during a widowhood of more than thirty years. Leslie Stephen.

2. Estate settled on a widow. [Obs.] "I 'll assure her of her widowhood . . . in all my lands." Shak.

WIDOW-HUNTER Wid"ow-hunt`er, n.

Defn: One who courts widows, seeking to marry one with a fortune. Addison.

WIDOWLY Wid"ow*ly, a.

Defn: Becoming or like a widow.

WIDOW-MAKER Wid"ow-mak`er, n.

Defn: One who makes widows by destroying husbands. [R.] Shak.

WIDOW-WAIL Wid"ow-wail`, n. (Bot.)

Defn: A low, narrowleaved evergreen shrub (Cneorum tricoccon) found in Southern Europe.

WIDTH Width, n. Etym: [From Wide.]

Defn: The quality of being wide; extent from side to side; breadth; wideness; as, the width of cloth; the width of a door.

WIDUAL Wid"u*al, a.

Defn: Of or pertaining to a widow; vidual. [Obs.] Bale.

WIDWE Wid"we, n.

Defn: A widow. [Obs.] Chaucer.

WIELD Wield, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Wielded; p. pr. & vb. n. Wielding.] Etym: [OE. welden to govern, to have power over, to possess, AS. geweldan, gewyldan, from wealdan; akin to OS. waldan, OFries. walda, G. walten, OHG. waltan, Icel. valda, Sw. vålla to occasion, to cause, Dan. volde, Goth. waldan to govern, rule, L. valere to be strong. Cf. Herald, Valiant.]

1. To govern; to rule; to keep, or have in charge; also, to possess. [Obs.] When a strong armed man keepeth his house, all things that he wieldeth ben in peace. Wyclif (Luke xi. 21). Wile [ne will] ye wield gold neither silver ne money in your girdles. Wyclif (Matt. x. 9.)

2. To direct or regulate by influence or authority; to manage; to control; to sway. The famous orators . . . whose resistless eloquence Wielded at will that fierce democraty. Milton. Her newborn power was wielded from the first by unprincipled and ambitions men. De Quincey.

3. To use with full command or power, as a thing not too heavy for the holder; to manage; to handle; hence, to use or employ; as, to wield a sword; to wield the scepter. Base Hungarian wight! wilt thou the spigot wield! Shak. Part wield their arms, part curb the foaming steed. Milton. Nothing but the influence of a civilized power could induce a savage to wield a spade. S. S. Smith. To wield the scepter, to govern with supreme command.

WIELDABLE Wield"a*ble, a.

Defn: Capable of being wielded.

WIELDANCE Wield"ance, n.

Defn: The act or power of wielding. [Obs.] "Our weak wieldance." Bp. Hall.

WIELDER Wield"er, n.

Defn: One who wields or employs; a manager; a controller. A wielder of the great arm of the war. Milton.

WIELDING Wield"ing, n.

Defn: Power; authority; rule. [Obs.] To have them in your might and in your wielding. Chaucer.

WIELDLESS Wield"less, a.

Defn: Not to be wielded; unmanageable; unwieldy. [R.] "Wieldless might." Spenser.

WIELDSOME Wield"some, a.

Defn: Admitting of being easily wielded or managed. [Obs.] Golding.

WIELDY Wield"y, a.

Defn: Capable of being wielded; manageable; wieldable; -- opposed to unwieldy. [R.] Johnson.

WIENER SCHNITZEL Wie"ner Schnit"zel. [G., Vienna cutlet.]

Defn: A veal cutlet variously seasoned garnished, often with lemon, sardines, and capers.

WIER Wier, n.

Defn: Same as Weir.

WIERANGLE Wier`an"gle, n. (Zoöl.)

Defn: Same as Wariangle. [Obs. or Prov. Eng.]

WIERY Wier"y, a. Etym: [Cf. Wearish.]

Defn: Wet; moist; marshy. [Obs.]

WIERY Wi"er*y, a. Etym: [From Wire; cf. Fiery.]

Defn: Wiry. [Obs.] "Wiery gold." Peacham.

WIFE Wife, n.; pl; Wives. Etym: [OE. wif, AS. wif; akin to OFries. & OS. wif, D. wijf, G. weib, OHG. wib, Icel. vif, Dan. viv; and perhaps to Skr. vip excited, agitated, inspired, vip to tremble, L. vibrare to vibrate, E. vibrate. Cf. Tacitus, [" Germania" 8]: Inesse quin etiam sanctum aliquid et providum putant, nec aut consilia earum aspernantur aut responsa neglegunt. Cf. Hussy a jade, Woman.]

1. A woman; an adult female; -- now used in literature only in certain compounds and phrases, as alewife, fishwife, goodwife, and the like. " Both men and wives." Piers Plowman. On the green he saw sitting a wife. Chaucer.

2. The lawful consort of a man; a woman who is united to a man in wedlock; a woman who has a husband; a married woman; -- correlative of husband. " The husband of one wife." 1 Tin. iii. 2. Let every one you . . . so love his wife even as himself, and the wife see that she reverence her husband. Eph. v. 33. To give to wife, To take to wife, to give or take (a woman) in marriage. -- Wife's equity (Law), the equitable right or claim of a married woman to a reasonable and adequate provision, by way of settlement or otherwise, out of her choses in action, or out of any property of hers which is under the jurisdiction of the Court of Chancery, for the support of herself and her children. Burrill.

WIFEHOOD Wife"hood, n. Etym: [AS. wifhad.]

1. Womanhood. [Obs.] Chaucer.

2. The state of being a wife; the character of a wife.

WIFELESS Wife"less, a.

Defn: Without a wife; unmarried. Chaucer.

WIFELIKE Wife"like`, a.

Defn: Of, pertaining to, or like, a wife or a woman. " Wifelike government." Shak.

WIFELY Wife"ly, a. Etym: [AS. wiflic.]

Defn: Becoming or life; of or pertaining to a wife. "Wifely patience." Chaucer. With all the tenderness of wifely love. Dryden.

WIG Wig, n. Etym: [Abbreviation from periwig.]

1. A covering for the head, consisting of hair interwoven or united by a kind of network, either in imitation of the natural growth, or in abundant and flowing curls, worn to supply a deficiency of natural hair, or for ornament, or according to traditional usage, as a part of an official or professional dress, the latter especially in England by judges and barristers.

2. An old seal; -- so called by fishermen. Wig tree. (Bot.) See Smoke tree, under Smoke.

WIG Wig, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Wigged; p. pr. & vb. n. Wigging.]

Defn: To censure or rebuke; to hold up to reprobation; to scold. [Slang]

WIGAN Wig"an, n.

Defn: A kind of canvaslike cotton fabric, used to stiffen and protect the lower part of trousers and of the skirts of women's dresses, etc.; -- so called from Wigan, the name of a town in Lancashire, England.

WIGEON Wi"geon, n. (Zoöl.)

Defn: A widgeon. [R.]

WIGG; WIG Wigg, Wig, n. Etym: [Cf. D. wegge a sort of bread, G. weck, orig., a wedge-shaped loaf or cake. See Wedge.]

Defn: A kind of raised seedcake. "Wiggs and ale." Pepys.

WIGGED Wigged

Defn: , a. Having the head covered with a wig; wearing a wig.

WIGGERY Wig"ger*y, n.

1. A wig or wigs; false hair. [R.] A. Trollope.

2. Any cover or screen, as red-tapism. [R.] Fire peels the wiggeries away from them [facts.] Carlyle.

WIGGLE Wig"gle, v. t. & i. Etym: [Cf. Wag, v. t., Waggle.]

Defn: To move to and fro with a quick, jerking motion; to bend rapidly, or with a wavering motion, from side to side; to wag; to squirm; to wriggle; as, the dog wiggles his tail; the tadpole wiggles in the water. [Prov. Eng. & Colloq. U. S.]

WIGGLE Wig"gle, n.

Defn: Act of wiggling; a wriggle. [Colloq.]

WIGGLER Wig"gler, n. (Zoöl.)

Defn: The young, either larva or pupa, of the mosquito; -- called also wiggletail.

WIGHER Wig"her, v. i. Etym: [Cf. G. wiehern, E. whine.]

Defn: To neigh; to whinny. [Obs.] Beau. & Fl.

WIGHT Wight, n.

Defn: Weight. [Obs.]

WIGHT Wight, n. Etym: [OE. wight, wiht, a wight, a whit, AS. wiht, wuht, a creature, a thing; skin to D. wicht a child, OS. & OHG. wiht a creature, thing, G. wicht a creature, Icel. vætt a wight, vætt a whit, Goth. waíhts, waíht, thing; cf. Russ. veshche a thing. Whit.]

1. A whit; a bit; a jot. [Obs.] She was fallen asleep a little wight. Chaucer.

2. A supernatural being. [Obs.] Chaucer.

3. A human being; a person, either male or female; -- now used chiefly in irony or burlesque, or in humorous language. "Worst of all wightes." Chaucer. Every wight that hath discretion. Chaucer. Oh, say me true if thou wert mortal wight. Milton.

WIGHT Wight, a. Etym: [OE. wight, wiht, probably of Scand. origin; cf. Icel. vigr in fighting condition, neut. vigh war, akin to AS. wig See Vanquish.]

Defn: Swift; nimble; agile; strong and active. [Obs. or Poetic] 'T is full wight, God wot, as is a roe. Chaucer. He was so wimble and so wight. Spenser. They were Night and Day, and Day and Night, Pilgrims wight with steps forthright. Emerson.

WIGHTLY Wight"ly, adv.

Defn: Swiftly; nimbly; quickly. [Obs.]

WIGLESS Wig"less, a.

Defn: Having or wearing no wig.

WIGWAG Wig"wag`, v. i. Etym: [See Wag, v. t.] (Naut.)

Defn: To signal by means of a flag waved from side to side according to a code adopted for the purpose. [Colloq.]

WIGWAM Wig"wam, n. Etym: [From the Algonquin or Massachusetts Indian word wek, "his house," or "dwelling place;" with possessive and locative affixes, we-kou-om-ut, "in his (or their) house," contracted by the English to weekwam, and wigwam.]

Defn: An Indian cabin or hut, usually of a conical form, and made of a framework of poles covered with hides, bark, or mats; -- called also tepee. [Sometimes written also weekwam.] Very spacious was the wigwam, Made of deerskin dressed and whitened, With the gods of the Dacotahs Drawn and painted on its curtains. Longfellow.

Note: "The wigwam, or Indian house, of a circular or oval shape, was made of bark or mats laid over a framework of branches of trees stuck in the ground in such a manner as to converge at the top, where was a central aperture for the escape of smoke from the fire beneath. The better sort had also a lining of mats. For entrance and egress, two low openings were left on opposite sides, one or the other of which was closed with bark or mats, according to the direction of the wind." Palfrey.

WIKE Wike, n.

Defn: A temporary mark or boundary, as a bough of a tree set up in marking out or dividing anything, as tithes, swaths to be mowed in common ground, etc.; -- called also wicker. [Prov. Eng.]

WIKE Wike, n. Etym: [AS. wic. See Wick a village.]

Defn: A home; a dwelling. [Obs. or Prov. Eng.]

WIKIUP Wik"i*up`, n. [Of North American Indian origin; cf. Dakota wakeya, wokeya.]

Defn: The hut used by the nomadic Indian tribes of the arid regions of the west and southwest United States, typically elliptical in form, with a rough frame covered with reed mats or grass or brushwood.

WIKKE Wik"ke, a.

Defn: Wicked. [Obs.] Chaucer.

WILD Wild, a. [Compar. Wilder; superl. Wildest.] Etym: [OE. wilde, AS. wilde; akin to OFries. wilde, D. wild, OS. & OHG. wildi, G. wild, Sw. & Dan. vild, Icel. villr wild, bewildered, astray, Goth. wilpeis wild, and G. & OHG. wild game, deer; of uncertain origin.]

1. Living in a state of nature; inhabiting natural haunts, as the forest or open field; not familiar with, or not easily approached by, man; not tamed or domesticated; as, a wild boar; a wild ox; a wild cat. Winter's not gone yet, if the wild geese fly that way. Shak.

2. Growing or produced without culture; growing or prepared without the aid and care of man; native; not cultivated; brought forth by unassisted nature or by animals not domesticated; as, wild parsnip, wild camomile, wild strawberry, wild honey. The woods and desert caves, With wild thyme and gadding vine o'ergrown. Milton.

3. Desert; not inhabited or cultivated; as, wild land. "To trace the forests wild." Shak.

4. Savage; uncivilized; not refined by culture; ferocious; rude; as, wild natives of Africa or America.

5. Not submitted to restraint, training, or regulation; turbulent; tempestuous; violent; ungoverned; licentious; inordinate; disorderly; irregular; fanciful; imaginary; visionary; crazy. "Valor grown wild by pride." Prior. "A wild, speculative project." Swift. What are these So withered and so wild in their attire Shak. With mountains, as with weapons, armed; which makes Wild work in heaven. Milton. The wild winds howl. Addison. Search then the ruling passion, there, alone The wild are constant, and the cunning known. Pope.

6. Exposed to the wind and sea; unsheltered; as, a wild roadstead.

7. Indicating strong emotion, intense excitement, or as, a wild look.

8. (Naut.)

Defn: Hard to steer; -- said of a vessel.

Note: Many plants are named by prefixing wild to the names of other better known or cultivated plants to which they a bear a real or fancied resemblance; as, wild allspice, wild pink, etc. See the Phrases below.

To run wild, to go unrestrained or untamed; to live or untamed; to live or grow without culture or training. -- To sow one's wild oats. See under Oat. Wild allspice. (Bot.), spicewood. -- Wild balsam apple (Bot.), an American climbing cucurbitaceous plant (Echinocystis lobata). -- Wild basil (Bot.), a fragrant labiate herb (Calamintha Clinopodium) common in Europe and America. -- Wild bean (Bot.), a name of several leguminous plants, mostly species of Phaseolus and Apios. -- Wild bee (Zoöl.), any one of numerous species of undomesticated social bees, especially the domestic bee when it has escaped from domestication and built its nest in a hollow tree or among rocks. -- Wild bergamot. (Bot.) See under Bergamot. -- Wild boar (Zoöl.), the European wild hog (Sus scrofa), from which the common domesticated swine is descended. -- Wild brier (Bot.), any uncultivated species of brier. See Brier. -- Wild bugloss (Bot.), an annual rough-leaved plant (Lycopsis arvensis) with small blue flowers. -- Wild camomile (Bot.), one or more plants of the composite genus Matricaria, much resembling camomile. -- Wild cat. (Zoöl.) (a) A European carnivore (Felis catus) somewhat resembling the domestic cat, but larger stronger, and having a short tail. It is destructive to the smaller domestic animals, such as lambs, kids, poultry, and the like. (b) The common American lynx, or bay lynx. (c) (Naut.) A wheel which can be adjusted so as to revolve either with, or on, the shaft of a capstan. Luce. -- Wild celery. (Bot.) See Tape grass, under Tape. -- Wild cherry. (Bot.) (a) Any uncultivated tree which bears cherries. The wild red cherry is Prunus Pennsylvanica. The wild black cherry is P. serotina, the wood of which is much used for cabinetwork, being of a light red color and a compact texture. (b) The fruit of various species of Prunus. -- Wild cinnamon. See the Note under Canella. -- Wild comfrey (Bot.), an American plant (Cynoglossum Virginicum) of the Borage family. It has large bristly leaves and small blue flowers. -- Wild cumin (Bot.), an annual umbelliferous plant (Lagoecia cuminoides) native in the countries about the Mediterranean. -- Wild drake (Zoöl.) the mallard. -- Wild elder (Bot.), an American plant (Aralia hispida) of the Ginseng family. -- Wild fowl (Zoöl.) any wild bird, especially any of those considered as game birds. -- Wild goose (Zoöl.), any one of several species of undomesticated geese, especially the Canada goose (Branta Canadensis), the European bean goose, and the graylag. See Graylag, and Bean goose, under Bean. -- Wild goose chase, the pursuit of something unattainable, or of something as unlikely to be caught as the wild goose. Shak. -- Wild honey, honey made by wild bees, and deposited in trees, rocks, the like. -- Wild hyacinth. (Bot.) See Hyacinth, 1 (b). Wild Irishman (Bot.), a thorny bush (Discaria Toumatou) of the Buckthorn family, found in New Zealand, where the natives use the spines in tattooing. -- Wild land. (a) Land not cultivated, or in a state that renders it unfit for cultivation. (b) Land which is not settled and cultivated. -- Wild licorice. (Bot.) See under Licorice. -- Wild mammee (Bot.), the oblong, yellowish, acid fruit of a tropical American tree (Rheedia lateriflora); -- so called in the West Indies. -- Wild marjoram (Bot.), a labiate plant (Origanum vulgare) much like the sweet marjoram, but less aromatic. -- Wild oat. (Bot.) (a) A tall, oatlike kind of soft grass (Arrhenatherum avenaceum). (b) See Wild oats, under Oat. -- Wild pieplant (Bot.), a species of dock (Rumex hymenosepalus) found from Texas to California. Its acid, juicy stems are used as a substitute for the garden rhubarb. -- Wild pigeon. (Zoöl.) (a) The rock dove. (b) The passenger pigeon. -- Wild pink (Bot.), an American plant (Silene Pennsylvanica) with pale, pinkish flowers; a kind of catchfly. -- Wild plantain (Bot.), an arborescent endogenous herb (Heliconia Bihai), much resembling the banana. Its leaves and leaf sheaths are much used in the West Indies as coverings for packages of merchandise. -- Wild plum. (Bot.) (a) Any kind of plum growing without cultivation. (b) The South African prune. See under Prune. -- Wild rice. (Bot.) See Indian rice, under Rice. -- Wild rosemary (Bot.), the evergreen shrub Andromeda polifolia. See Marsh rosemary, under Rosemary. -- Wild sage. (Bot.) See Sagebrush. -- Wild sarsaparilla (Bot.), a species of ginseng (Aralia nudicaulis) bearing a single long-stalked leaf. -- Wild sensitive plant (Bot.), either one of two annual leguminous herbs (Cassia Chamæcrista, and C. nictitans), in both of which the leaflets close quickly when the plant is disturbed. -- Wild service.(Bot.) See Sorb. -- Wild Spaniard (Bot.), any one of several umbelliferous plants of the genus Aciphylla, natives of New Zealand. The leaves bear numerous bayonetlike spines, and the plants form an impenetrable thicket. -- Wild turkey. (Zoöl.) See 2d Turkey.

WILD Wild, n.

Defn: An uninhabited and uncultivated tract or region; a forest or desert; a wilderness; a waste; as, the wilds of America; the wilds of Africa. then Libya first, of all her moisture drained, Became a barren waste, a wild of sand. Addison.

WILD Wild, adv.

Defn: Wildly; as, to talk wild. Shak.

WILD-CAT Wild"-cat`, a.

1. Unsound; worthless; irresponsible; unsafe; -- said to have been originally applied to the notes of an insolvent bank in Michigan upon which there was the figure of a panther.

2. (Railroad)

Defn: Running without control; running along the line without a train; as, a wild-cat locomotive.

WILDEBEEST Wilde"beest`, n. Etym: [D. wild wild + beeste beast.] (Zoöl.)

Defn: The gnu.

WILDED Wild"ed, a.

Defn: Become wild. [R.] An old garden plant escaped and wilded. J. Earle.

WILDER Wil"der, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Wildered; p. pr. & vb. n. Wildering.] Etym: [Akin to E. wild, Dan. forvilde to bewilder, Icel. villr bewildered, villa to bewilder; cf. AS. wildor a wild animal. See Wild, a., and cf. Wilderness.]

Defn: To bewilder; to perplex. Long lost and wildered in the maze of fate. Pope. Again the wildered fancy dreams Of spouting fountains, frozen as they rose. Bryant.

WILDERING Wild"er*ing, n. (Bot.)

Defn: A plant growing in a state of nature; especially, one which has run wild, or escaped from cultivation.

WILDERMENT Wil"der*ment, n.

Defn: The state of being bewildered; confusion; bewilderment. And snatched her breathless from beneath This wilderment of wreck and death. Moore.

WILDERNESS Wil"der*ness, n. Etym: [OE. wildernesse, wilderne,probably from AS. wildor a wild beast; cf. D. wildernis wilderness. See Wilder, v. t.]

1. A tract of land, or a region, uncultivated and uninhabited by human beings, whether a forest or a wide, barren plain; a wild; a waste; a desert; a pathless waste of any kind. The wat'ry wilderness yields no supply. Waller.

2. A disorderly or neglected place. Cowper.

3. Quality or state of being wild; wildness. [Obs.] These paths and bowers doubt not but our joint hands. Will keep from wilderness with ease. Milton.

WILDFIRE Wild"fire, n.

1. A composition of inflammable materials, which, kindled, is very hard to quench; Greek fire. Brimstone, pitch, wildfire . . . burn cruelly, and hard to quench. Bacon.

2. (Med.) (a) An old name for erysipelas. (b) A disease of sheep, attended with inflammation of the skin.

3. A sort of lightning unaccompanied by thunder. [R.]

WILDGRAVE Wild"grave`, n. Etym: [G. wildgraf or D. wildgraaf. See Wild, and cf. Margrave.]

Defn: A waldgrave, or head forest keeper. See Waldgrave. The wildgrave winds his bugle horn. Sir W. Scott.

WILDING Wild"ing, n. (Bot.)

Defn: A wild or uncultivated plant; especially, a wild apple tree or crab apple; also, the fruit of such a plant. Spenser. Ten ruddy wildings in the wood I found. Dryden. The fruit of the tree . . . is small, of little juice, and bad quality. I presume it to be a wilding. Landor.

WILDING Wild"ing, a.

Defn: Not tame, domesticated, or cultivated; wild. [Poetic] "Wilding flowers." Tennyson. The ground squirrel gayly chirps by his den, And the wilding bee hums merrily by. Bryant.

WILDISH Wild"ish, a.

Defn: Somewhat wild; rather wild. "A wildish destiny." Wordsworth.

WILDLY Wild"ly, adv.

Defn: In a wild manner; without cultivation; with disorder; rudely; distractedly; extravagantly.

WILDNESS Wild"ness, n.

Defn: The quality or state of being wild; an uncultivated or untamed state; disposition to rove or go unrestrained; rudeness; savageness; irregularity; distraction.

WILDWOOD Wild"wood, n.

Defn: A wild or unfrequented wood. Also used adjectively; as, wildwood flowers; wildwood echoes. Burns.

WILE Wile, n. Etym: [OE. wile, AS. wil; cf. Icel. v, væl. Cf. Guile.]

Defn: A trick or stratagem practiced for insnaring or deception; a sly, insidious; artifice; a beguilement; an allurement. Put on the whole armor of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. Eph. vi. 11. Not more almighty to resist our might, Than wise to frustrate all our plots and wiles. Milton.

WILE Wile, v. t.

1. To practice artifice upon; to deceive; to beguile; to allure. [R.] Spenser.

2. To draw or turn away, as by diversion; to while or while away; to cause to pass pleasantly. Tennyson.

WILEFUL Wile"ful, a.

Defn: Full of wiles; trickish; deceitful.

WILFLEY TABLE Wil"fley ta`ble. (Ore Dressing)

Defn: An inclined percussion table, usually with longitudinal grooves in its surface, agitated by side blows at right angles to the flow of the pulp; -- so called after the inventor.

WILFUL; WILFULLY; WILFULNESS Wil"ful, a., Wil"ful*ly, adv., Wil"ful*ness, n.

Defn: See Willful, Willfully, and Willfulness.

WILINESS Wi"li*ness, n.

Defn: The quality or state of being wily; craftiness; cunning; guile.

WILK Wilk, n. (Zoöl.)

Defn: See Whelk. [Obs.]

WILL Will, n. Etym: [OE. wille, AS. willa; akin to OFries. willa, OS. willeo, willio, D. wil, G. wille, Icel. vili, Dan. villie, Sw. vilja, Goth wilja. See Will, v.]

1. The power of choosing; the faculty or endowment of the soul by which it is capable of choosing; the faculty or power of the mind by which we decide to do or not to do; the power or faculty of preferring or selecting one of two or more objects. It is necessary to form a distinct notion of what is meant by the word "volition" in order to understand the import of the word will, for this last word expresses the power of mind of which "volition" is the act. Stewart. Will is an ambiguous word, being sometimes put for the faculty of willing; sometimes for the act of that faculty, besides [having] other meanings. But "volition" always signifies the act of willing, and nothing else. Reid. Appetite is the will's solicitor, and the will is appetite's controller; what we covet according to the one, by the other we often reject. Hooker. The will is plainly that by which the mind chooses anything. J. Edwards.

2. The choice which is made; a determination or preference which results from the act or exercise of the power of choice; a volition. The word "will," however, is not always used in this its proper acceptation, but is frequently substituted for "volition", as when I say that my hand mover in obedience to my will. Stewart.

3. The choice or determination of one who has authority; a decree; a command; discretionary pleasure. Thy will be done. Matt. vi. 10. Our prayers should be according to the will of God. Law.

4. Strong wish or inclination; desire; purpose.

Note: "Inclination is another word with which will is frequently confounded. Thus, when the apothecary says, in Romeo and Juliet, -- My poverty, but not my will, consents; . . . Put this in any liquid thing you will, And drink it off. the word will is plainly used as, synonymous with inclination; not in the strict logical sense, as the immediate antecedent of action. It is with the same latitude that the word is used in common conversation, when we speak of doing a thing which duty prescribes, against one's own will; or when we speak of doing a thing willingly or unwillingly." Stewart.

5. That which is strongly wished or desired. What's your will, good friar Shak. The mariner hath his will. Coleridge.

6. Arbitrary disposal; power to control, dispose, or determine. Deliver me not over unto the will of mine enemies. Ps. xxvii. 12.

7 7 (Law)

Defn: The legal declaration of a person's mind as to the manner in which he would have his property or estate disposed of after his death; the written instrument, legally executed, by which a man makes disposition of his estate, to take effect after his death; testament; devise. See the Note under Testament, 1.

Note: Wills are written or nuncupative, that is, oral. See Nuncupative will, under Nuncupative. At will (Law), at pleasure. To hold an estate at the will of another, is to enjoy the possession at his pleasure, and be liable to be ousted at any time by the lessor or proprietor. An estate at will is at the will of both parties. -- Good will. See under Good. -- Ill will, enmity; unfriendliness; malevolence. -- To have one's will, to obtain what is desired; to do what one pleases. -- Will worship, worship according to the dictates of the will or fancy; formal worship. [Obs.] -- Will worshiper, one who offers will worship. [Obs.] Jer. Taylor. -- With a will, with willingness and zeal; with all one's heart or strength; earnestly; heartily.

WILL Will, v. t. & auxiliary. [imp. Would. Indic. present, I will (Obs. I wol), thou wilt, he will (Obs. he wol); we, ye, they will.] Etym: [OE. willen, imp. wolde; akin to OS. willan, OFries. willa, D. willen, G. wollen, OHG. wollan, wellan, Icel. & Sw. vilja, Dan. ville, Goth. wiljan, OSlav. voliti, L. velle to wish, volo I wish; cf. Skr. vrs to choose, to prefer. Cf. Voluntary, Welcome, Well, adv.]

1. To wish; to desire; to incline to have. A wife as of herself no thing ne sholde [should] Wille in effect, but as her husband wolde [would]. Chaucer. Caleb said unto her, What will thou Judg. i. 14. They would none of my counsel. Prov. i. 30.

2. As an auxiliary, will is used to denote futurity dependent on the verb. Thus, in first person, "I will" denotes willingness, consent, promise; and when "will" is emphasized, it denotes determination or fixed purpose; as, I will go if you wish; I will go at all hazards. In the second and third persons, the idea of distinct volition, wish, or purpose is evanescent, and simple certainty is appropriately expressed; as, "You will go," or "He will go," describes a future event as a fact only. To emphasize will denotes (according to the tone or context) certain futurity or fixed determination.

Note: Will, auxiliary, may be used elliptically for will go. "I'll to her lodgings." Marlowe.

Note: As in shall (which see), the second and third persons may be virtually converted into the first, either by question or indirect statement, so as to receive the meaning which belongs to will in that person; thus, "Will you go" (answer, "I will go") asks assent, requests, etc.; while "Will he go" simply inquires concerning futurity; thus, also,"He says or thinks he will go," "You say or think you will go," both signify willingness or consent.

Note: Would, as the preterit of will, is chiefly employed in conditional, subjunctive, or optative senses; as, he would go if he could; he could go if he would; he said that he would go; I would fain go, but can not; I would that I were young again; and other like phrases. In the last use, the first personal pronoun is often omitted; as, would that he were here; would to Heaven that it were so; and, omitting the to in such an adjuration. "Would God I had died for thee." Would is used for both present and future time, in conditional propositions, and would have for past time; as, he would go now if he were ready; if it should rain, he would not go; he would have gone, had he been able. Would not, as also will not, signifies refusal. "He was angry, and would not go in." Luke xv. 28. Would is never a past participle.

Note: In Ireland, Scotland, and the United States, especially in the southern and western portions of the United States, shall and will, should and would, are often misused, as in the following examples: -- I am able to devote as much time and attention to other subjects as I will [shall] be under the necessity of doing next winter. Chalmers. A countryman, telling us what he had seen, remarked that if the conflagration went on, as it was doing, we would [should] have, as our next season's employment, the Old Town of Edinburgh to rebuild. H. Miller. I feel assured that I will [shall] not have the misfortune to find conflicting views held by one so enlightened as your excellency. J. Y. Mason.

WILL Will, v. i.

Defn: To be willing; to be inclined or disposed; to be pleased; to wish; to desire. And behold, there came a leper and worshiped him, saying, Lord if thou wilt, thou canst make me clean. And Jesus . . . touched him, saying, I will; be thou clean. Matt. viii. 2, 3.

Note: This word has been confused with will, v. i., to choose, which, unlike this, is of the weak conjugation. Will I, nill I, or Will ye, hill ye, or Will he, nill he, whether I, you, or he will it or not; hence, without choice; compulsorily; -- sometimes corrupted into willy nilly. "If I must take service willy nilly." J. H. Newman. "Land for all who would till it, and reading and writing will ye, nill ye." Lowell.

WILL Will, v. t. [imp. & p. p Willed; p. pr. & vb. n. Willing. Indic. present I will, thou willeth, he wills; we, ye, they will.] Etym: [Cf. AS. willian. See Will, n.]

1. To form a distinct volition of; to determine by an act of choice; to ordain; to decree. "What she will to do or say." Milton. By all law and reason, that which the Parliament will not, is no more established in this kingdom. Milton. Two things he [God] willeth, that we should be good, and that we should be happy. Barrow.

2. To enjoin or command, as that which is determined by an act of volition; to direct; to order. [Obs. or R.] They willed me say so, madam. Shak. Send for music, And will the cooks to use their best of cunning To please the palate. Beau. & Fl. As you go, will the lord mayor . . . To attend our further pleasure presently. J. Webster.

3. To give or direct the disposal of by testament; to bequeath; to devise; as, to will one's estate to a child; also, to order or direct by testament; as, he willed that his nephew should have his watch.

WILL Will, v. i.

Defn: To exercise an act of volition; to choose; to decide; to determine; to decree. At Winchester he lies, so himself willed. Robert of Brunne. He that shall turn his thoughts inward upon what passes in his own mind when he wills. Locke. I contend for liberty as it signifies a power in man to do as he wills or pleases. Collins.

WILLEMITE Wil"lem*ite, n. Etym: [From Willem I., king of the Netherlands.] (Min.)

Defn: A silicate of zinc, usually occurring massive and of a greenish yellow color, also in reddish crystals (troostite) containing manganese.

WILLER Will"er, n.

Defn: One who wills.

WILLET Wil"let, n. (Zoöl.)

Defn: A large North American snipe (Symphemia semipalmata); -- called also pill-willet, will-willet, semipalmated tattler, or snipe, duck snipe, and stone curlew. Carolina willet, the Hudsonian godwit.

WILLFUL Will"ful, a. Etym: [Will + full.] Etym: [Written also wilful.]

1. Of set purpose; self-determined; voluntary; as, willful murder. Foxe. In willful poverty chose to lead his life. Chaucer. Thou to me Art all things under heaven, all places thou, Who, for my willful crime, art banished hence. Milton.

2. Governed by the will without yielding to reason; obstinate; perverse; inflexible; stubborn; refractory; as, a willful man or horse. -- Will"ful*ly, adv. -- Will"ful*ness, n.

WILLIER Wil"li*er, n.

Defn: One who works at a willying machine.

WILLING Will"ing, a. Etym: [From Will, v. t.]

1. Free to do or to grant; having the mind inclined; not opposed in mind; not choosing to refuse; disposed; not averse; desirous; consenting; complying; ready. Felix, willing to show the Jews a pleasure, left Paul bound. Acts xxiv. 27. With wearied wings and willing feet. Milton. [Fruit] shaken in August from the willing boughs. Bryant.

2. Received of choice, or without reluctance; submitted to voluntarily; chosen; desired. [They] are held, with his melodious harmony, In willing chains and sweet captivity. Milton.

3. Spontaneous; self-moved. [R.] No spouts of blood run willing from a tree. Dryden.

WILLINGLY Will"ing*ly, adv.

Defn: In a willing manner; with free will; without reluctance; cheerfully. Chaucer. The condition of that people is not so much to be envied as some would willingly represent it. Addison.

WILLINGNESS Will"ing*ness, n.

Defn: The quality or state of being willing; free choice or consent of the will; freedom from reluctance; readiness of the mind to do or forbear. Sweet is the love which comes with willingness. Dryden.

WILLIWAW; WILLYWAW Wil"li*waw, Wil"ly*waw, n. (Naut.)

Defn: A whirlwind, or whirlwind squall, encountered in the Straits of Magellan. W. C. Russell.

WILLOCK Wil"lock, n. (Zoöl.) (a) The common guillemot. (b) The puffin. [Prov. Eng.]

WILL-O'-THE-WISP Will"-o'-the-wisp`, n.

Defn: See Ignis fatuus.

WILLOW Wil"low, n. Etym: [OE. wilowe, wilwe, AS. wilig, welig; akin to OD. wilge, D. wilg, LG. wilge. Cf. Willy.]

1. (Bot.)

Defn: Any tree or shrub of the genus Salix, including many species, most of which are characterized often used as an emblem of sorrow, desolation, or desertion. "A wreath of willow to show my forsaken plight." Sir W. Scott. Hence, a lover forsaken by, or having lost, the person beloved, is said to wear the willow. And I must wear the willow garland For him that's dead or false to me. Campbell.

2. (Textile Manuf.)