nill

verb

nilled; nilling; nills

intransitive verb

archaic : to be unwilling : will not
… will you nill you, I will marry you.William Shakespeare

Word History

Etymology

Middle English nilen, from Old English nyllan, from ne not + wyllan to wish — more at no, will

First Known Use

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense

Time Traveler
The first known use of nill was before the 12th century

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Cite this Entry

“Nill.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/nill. Accessed 6 Nov. 2025.

Last Updated: - Definition revised
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