Crossword clues for velleity
The Collaborative International Dictionary
Velleity \Vel*le"i*ty\, n. [F. vell['e]it['e] (cf. It.
velleit[`a]), fr. L. velle to will, to be willing.]
The lowest degree of desire; imperfect or incomplete
volition.
--Locke.
Douglas Harper's Etymology Dictionary
"volition in the weakest form; an indolent or inactive wish," 1610s, from Medieval Latin stem of velleitas (from Latin velle "to wish, will;" see will (v.)) + -ity.
Wiktionary
n. 1 The lowest degree of desire or volition, with no effort to act. 2 A slight wish not followed by any effort to obtain.
WordNet
n. a mere wish, unaccompanied by effort to obtain
volition in its weakest form
Wikipedia
Velleity is the lowest degree of volition, a slight wish or tendency.
Usage examples of "velleity".
The difficulty of getting here prevented people from coming on a velleity, and the eternal presence of these people- like starlings peering down hungrily at a picnic- reminded everyone who was lucky enough to have a job that others were waiting to take their place.
Saying now this, now that, hinting of all things,-- Dreams, and desires, velleities, regrets, Faint ghosts of memory, strange recognitions,-- But all with one deep meaning: this is I, This is the glistening secret holy I, This silver-winged wonder, insubstantial, This singing ghost.
Where the weakest are to be convinced speech must stoop: a full consideration of the velleities and uncertainties, a little bombast to elevate the feelings without committing the judgment, some vague effusion of sentiment, an inapposite blandness, a meaningless rodomontade - these are the by-ways to be travelled by the style that is a willing slave to its audience.
Depending on the diurnal velleities of Queen Anne, Bolingbroke was either the first man in England, or the second, after Oxford.
Unwilling to stop until she imposes her will on the velleities of the wheel, she loses heavily, stubbornly cashes all her securities at a ruinous rate to continue to play, and loses every penny.
He had no tolerance at all for their high-minded Romantic and idealistic velleities, even though these had played a part in helping to abolish serfdom and had led to a more humanitarian attitude toward the peasantry.
Saying now this, now that, hinting of all things,-- Dreams, and desires, velleities, regrets, Faint ghosts of memory, strange recognitions,-- But all with one deep meaning: this is I, This is the glistening secret holy I, This silver-winged wonder, insubstantial, This singing ghost.