willan

Old English

Etymology

From Proto-Germanic *wiljaną, from Proto-Indo-European *wel-. Cognate with Old Frisian willa (West Frisian wolle), Old Saxon willian, Dutch willen, Old Norse vilja (Danish ville, Swedish vilja), Gothic 𐍅𐌹𐌻𐌾𐌰𐌽; the alternative form *waljan gave Old High German wollen (German wollen).

The Proto-Indo-European root is also the source of Latin velle, Slavic *velěti (whence Old Church Slavonic велѣти, Russian велеть), Baltic *wel- (Lithuanian vélmi).

Pronunciation

• IPA: /ˈwilːɑn/

Verb

willan (irregular)

1. to wish, to want

Conjugation

Conjugation of willan (irregular)

indicative	present	preterite
1st-person singular	wille	wolde
2nd-person singular	wilt	woldest
3rd-person singular	wille	wolde
plural	willaþ	woldon
subjunctive	present	preterite
singular	wille	wolde
plural	willen	wolden
imperative
singular	*wille
plural	*willaþ
participle	present	past
	willende	*willen

Descendants

• Middle English: willen
  • English: will