willan
See also: Willan
Old English edit
Alternative forms edit
Etymology edit
From Proto-West Germanic *willjan, from Proto-Germanic *wiljaną.
Pronunciation edit
Verb edit
willan
- to want, desire
- Hwæt wilt þū mā æt mē?
- What more do you want from me?
- c. 995, Ælfric, Extracts on Grammar in English
- Iċ wille þæt þū rǣde.
- I want you to read.
- c. 990, Wessex Gospels, Mark 10:51
- Hwæt wilt þū þæt iċ þē dō?
- What do you want me to do to you?
- 10th century, the Blickling Homilies, "The Story of Peter and Paul"
- Hwæder wilt þū gangan?
- Where do you want to go?
- late 10th century, Ælfric, "The Seven Sleepers"
- ...he wolde gan ut of ðam porte...
- ...he desired to go out of the town...
- to intend
- Iċ wolde þæt dōn!
- I meant to do that!
- Ne breġd þū nǣfre þīn sweord būtan þū his notian wille.
- Never draw your sword unless you intend to use it.
- to be willing
- used to express habitual behavior
- c. 992, Ælfric, "St. Oswald, King and Martyr"
- Hē wolde oftost æfter ūhtsange hine ġebiddan.
- He would most often pray after matins.
- c. 992, Ælfric, "St. Oswald, King and Martyr"
- used to express futurity
- Hwæt lā wilt þū dōn, mē stingan?
- What are you gonna do, stab me?
- to want or intend to go (to or from somewhere)
- Hū oft wolde iċ heonan onweġ?
- How many times have I wanted to get away from here?
- late 10th century, Ælfric, the Old English Hexateuch, Genesis 32:17
- Hwæder willaþ ġē?
- Where are you guys going?
- used in the subjunctive past to express hypotheticals, where Modern English would use "would"
- Hū wolde þē līcian ġif ic wisse ealle þīne dēagolnesse?
- How would you like it if I knew all your secrets?
Conjugation edit
Conjugation of willan (irregular)
| infinitive | willan | willenne |
|---|---|---|
| indicative mood | present tense | past tense |
| first person singular | wille | wolde |
| second person singular | wilt | woldest |
| third person singular | wile | wolde |
| plural | willaþ | woldon |
| subjunctive | present tense | past tense |
| singular | wille | wolde |
| plural | willen | wolden |
| imperative | ||
| singular | — | |
| plural | — | |
| participle | present | past |
| willende | — | |