† a-willadv.
Obsolete.
1. At one's will, to one's pleasure or satisfaction.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > will > wish or inclination > [adverb]
to one's willOE
by one's willOE
self-willesOE
after a person's willOE
a-willc1275
at willc1300
at one's (own) liberty1426
ad placituma1556
at pleasure1579
ad libitum1606
arbitrarilya1626
arbitrariously1653
discretionally1655
ad arbitrium1663
voluntarily1676
discretionarily1681
antecedently1682
discretionary?1707
ad lib1791
at one's own sweet will1802
at choice1817
at no allowance1858
the mind > emotion > pleasure > contentment or satisfaction > [adverb] > so as to content or satisfy > to one's satisfaction
to one's willOE
a-willc1275
at a person's willc1300
fillc1300
to payc1300
at, to greec1374
with or upon one's wish or wishes1390
agreea1425
at wisha1525
to (one's) wish (rarely wishes)1586
to one's heart's content1600
wishfully1607
c1275 (?c1250) Owl & Nightingale (Calig.) (1935) l. 1722 Heo [sc. þe wranne] hadde gode þorte & schille, An fale manne song awille [a1300 Jesus Oxf. a wille].
2. At one's command or disposal.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > possession > [phrase] > in one's possession and control
to one's willOE
at a person's willc1300
a-willc1450
c1450 (a1400) Chevalere Assigne l. 79 in W. H. French & C. B. Hale Middle Eng. Metrical Romances (1930) 862 Bothe howndes and men haue hadde þe a wylle.
This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1885; most recently modified version published online September 2021).
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adv.c1275