Crossword clues for nill
The Collaborative International Dictionary
Nill \Nill\, n. [Cf. Ir. & Gael. neul star, light. Cf. Nebula.]
Shining sparks thrown off from melted brass.
Scales of hot iron from the forge.
--Knight.
Nill \Nill\ (n[i^]l), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Nilled (n[i^]ld); p. pr. & vb. n. Nilling.] [AS. nilan, nyllan; ne not + willan to will. See No, and Will.] Not to will; to refuse; to reject. [Obs.]
Certes, said he, I nill thine offered grace.
--Spenser.
Nill \Nill\, v. i. To be unwilling; to refuse to act.
The actions of the will are ``velle'' and ``nolle,'' to
will and nill.
--Burton.
Will he, nill he, whether he wills it or not; usually contracted to willy-nilly.
Douglas Harper's Etymology Dictionary
Old English nylle, nelle "to be unwilling," from ne "no" (see no) + will (v.). Often paired with will; the construction in nill he, will he, once common, attested from c.1300, surviving principally in willy-nilly, which, however, reverses the usual Middle English word order. Latin expressed a similar idea in nolens volens.
Wiktionary
Etymology 1 vb. 1 (label en modal auxiliary obsolete) To be unwilling; will not (''+ infinitive''). 2 (label en intransitive archaic) To be unwilling. 3 (label en transitive archaic) To reject, refuse, negate. Etymology 2
n. 1 Shining sparks thrown off from melted brass. 2 Scales of hot iron from the forge.
Usage examples of "nill".
No matter how well you think you shield, youngling, when you care for someone the way you two cared for each other, things are bound to get throughwill you, nill you.
Connachar had for her, he wanted to marry Deirdre right off there and then, will she nill she marry him.
Yes, velocities will be high, as will be our combined delta-v's if their ship commences deceleration toward Parvati, but relative velocities for the two ships will be almost nill.