nolens volens

English

Etymology

From Latin nōlēns (“unwilling”), from nōlō (“to be unwilling”) and volēns (“willing”), from volō (“to be willing, to want”).

Adverb

nolens volens

1. Willing or unwilling; willy-nilly.
   • 1765, [Laurence Sterne], chapter XXXIII, in The Life and Opinions of Tristram Shandy, Gentleman, volume VIII, London: […] T. Becket and P. A. Dehondt, […], →OCLC, page 183:

     Now I would not, quoth my uncle Toby, get a child, nolens, volens, that is, whether I would or no, to pleaſe the greateſt prince upon earth——

   • 1815 February 24, [Walter Scott], chapter L, in Guy Mannering; or, The Astrologer. […], volume (please specify |volume=I to III), Edinburgh: […] James Ballantyne and Co. for Longman, Hurst, Rees, Orme, and Brown, […]; and Archibald Constable and Co., […], →OCLC:

     “Well, nolens volens, you must hold your tongue,” said Pleydell.

   • 1843, Edward Belcher, Narrative of a Voyage Round the World:

     Boats with soldiers were sent under the direction of the padres to capture Indians and bring them to the missions, where they were made Christians nolens volens.

   • 1887, Charles Darwin, “To T. H. Huxley. Down, August 8 [1860]”, in Francis Darwin, editor, The Life and Letters of Charles Darwin‎^[1], volume II, New York: D. Appleton & Company, page 123:

     He won't go very “dangerous lengths,” but thinks the truth lies half-way between Agassiz and the ‘Origin.’ As he goes thus far he will, nolens volens, have to go further.

Translations

willing or unwilling — see willy-nilly

Polish

Etymology

Learned borrowing from Latin nolens volens.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˈnɔ.lɛns ˈvɔ.lɛns/
• Syllabification: no‧lens vo‧lens

Adverb

nolens volens (not comparable)

1. nolens volens; willing or unwilling; willy-nilly

   Synonym: chcąc nie chcąc

Further reading

• “nolens volens”, in Polish dictionaries at PWN‎^[2] (in Polish)