"will-less" meaning in English

See will-less in All languages combined, or Wiktionary

Adjective

Forms: willless [alternative]
Etymology: Etymology tree English will Proto-Indo-European *lewh₁- Proto-Indo-European *lewHs-der. Proto-Germanic *leusaną Proto-Germanic *lausaz Proto-Germanic *-lausaz Proto-West Germanic *-laus Old English -lēas Middle English -les English -less English will-less From will + -less. Etymology templates: {{ety|en|:af|will|-less|text=+|tree=1}} Etymology tree English will Proto-Indo-European *lewh₁- Proto-Indo-European *lewHs-der. Proto-Germanic *leusaną Proto-Germanic *lausaz Proto-Germanic *-lausaz Proto-West Germanic *-laus Old English -lēas Middle English -les English -less English will-less [Appendix:Glossary#derived_terms|Derived]] from", "terms" : [ { "alt" : "*lewHs-", "lang_name" : "Proto-Indo-European", "status" : "inline", "children" : [ { "terms" : [ { "children" : [ ], "lang_name" : "Proto-Indo-European", "term" : "*lewh₁-", "status" : "ok", "lang" : "ine-pro" } ], "keyword_label" : "From", "keyword" : "from" } ], "lang" : "ine-pro" } ], "keyword" : "derived" } ], "lang_name" : "Proto-Germanic", "term" : "*leusaną", "status" : "ok", "lang" : "gem-pro" } ], "keyword_label" : "From", "keyword" : "from" } ], "lang_name" : "Proto-Germanic", "term" : "*lausaz", "status" : "ok", "lang" : "gem-pro" } ], "keyword_label" : "From", "keyword" : "from" } ], "lang_name" : "Proto-Germanic", "term" : "*-lausaz", "status" : "ok", "lang" : "gem-pro" } ], "keyword_label" : "Inherited from", "keyword" : "inherited" } ], "lang_name" : "Proto-West Germanic", "term" : "*-laus", "status" : "ok", "lang" : "gmw-pro" } ], "keyword_label" : "Inherited from", "keyword" : "inherited" } ], "lang_name" : "Old English", "term" : "-lēas", "status" : "ok", "lang" : "ang" } ], "keyword_label" : "Inherited from", "keyword" : "inherited" } ], "lang_name" : "Middle English", "term" : "-les", "status" : "ok", "lang" : "enm" } ], "keyword_label" : "Inherited from", "keyword" : "inherited" } ], "lang_name" : "English", "term" : "-less", "status" : "ok", "lang" : "en" } ], "keyword_label" : "From", "is_group" : true, "keyword" : "affix" } ], "lang_name" : "English", "term" : "will-less", "status" : "ok", "lang" : "en" }" data-lang="en" data-title="will-less"> From will + -less. Head templates: {{en-adj|-|head=will-less}} will-less (not comparable)
  1. Of a person, lacking volition, not exercising one's will. Tags: not-comparable Synonyms: irresolute Related terms (lacking volition): certain Translations (of a person, lacking volition, not exercising one's will): willenlos (German), bezwolny (Polish), viljelös (Swedish)
    Sense id: en-will-less-en-adj-iv8qB7Tz Categories (other): English entries with etymology texts, English entries with etymology trees, English terms suffixed with -less Disambiguation of English entries with etymology texts: 54 0 46 Disambiguation of English entries with etymology trees: 54 0 46 Disambiguation of English terms suffixed with -less: 46 7 46 Disambiguation of 'lacking volition': 86 1 13 Disambiguation of "of a person, lacking volition, not exercising one's will": 86 0 13
  2. Of an action, involuntary. Tags: not-comparable
    Sense id: en-will-less-en-adj-MB9vmyse
  3. Intestate; without a legal will governing one's property or estate. Tags: not-comparable
    Sense id: en-will-less-en-adj-hKU7Jgwq Categories (other): English entries referencing missing etymons, English entries with etymology texts, English entries with etymology trees, English entries with incorrect language header, English terms suffixed with -less, Entries with translation boxes, Pages using etymon with no ID, Pages with 1 entry, Pages with entries, Pages with etymology trees, Terms with German translations, Terms with Polish translations, Terms with Swedish translations Disambiguation of English entries referencing missing etymons: 41 6 53 Disambiguation of English entries with etymology texts: 54 0 46 Disambiguation of English entries with etymology trees: 54 0 46 Disambiguation of English entries with incorrect language header: 31 3 67 Disambiguation of English terms suffixed with -less: 46 7 46 Disambiguation of Entries with translation boxes: 24 0 76 Disambiguation of Pages using etymon with no ID: 20 0 80 Disambiguation of Pages with 1 entry: 22 0 78 Disambiguation of Pages with entries: 10 0 90 Disambiguation of Pages with etymology trees: 26 0 74 Disambiguation of Terms with German translations: 22 5 73 Disambiguation of Terms with Polish translations: 25 5 71 Disambiguation of Terms with Swedish translations: 21 5 74
The following are not (yet) sense-disambiguated
Derived forms: will-lessly, will-lessness

Alternative forms

{
  "derived": [
    {
      "_dis1": "0 0 0",
      "word": "will-lessly"
    },
    {
      "_dis1": "0 0 0",
      "word": "will-lessness"
    }
  ],
  "etymology_templates": [
    {
      "args": {
        "1": "en",
        "2": ":af",
        "3": "will",
        "4": "-less",
        "text": "+",
        "tree": "1"
      },
      "expansion": "Etymology tree\nEnglish will\nProto-Indo-European *lewh₁-\nProto-Indo-European *lewHs-der.\nProto-Germanic *leusaną\nProto-Germanic *lausaz\nProto-Germanic *-lausaz\nProto-West Germanic *-laus\nOld English -lēas\nMiddle English -les\nEnglish -less\nEnglish will-less\n[Appendix:Glossary#derived_terms|Derived]] from\", \"terms\" : [ { \"alt\" : \"*lewHs-\", \"lang_name\" : \"Proto-Indo-European\", \"status\" : \"inline\", \"children\" : [ { \"terms\" : [ { \"children\" : [ ], \"lang_name\" : \"Proto-Indo-European\", \"term\" : \"*lewh₁-\", \"status\" : \"ok\", \"lang\" : \"ine-pro\" } ], \"keyword_label\" : \"From\", \"keyword\" : \"from\" } ], \"lang\" : \"ine-pro\" } ], \"keyword\" : \"derived\" } ], \"lang_name\" : \"Proto-Germanic\", \"term\" : \"*leusaną\", \"status\" : \"ok\", \"lang\" : \"gem-pro\" } ], \"keyword_label\" : \"From\", \"keyword\" : \"from\" } ], \"lang_name\" : \"Proto-Germanic\", \"term\" : \"*lausaz\", \"status\" : \"ok\", \"lang\" : \"gem-pro\" } ], \"keyword_label\" : \"From\", \"keyword\" : \"from\" } ], \"lang_name\" : \"Proto-Germanic\", \"term\" : \"*-lausaz\", \"status\" : \"ok\", \"lang\" : \"gem-pro\" } ], \"keyword_label\" : \"Inherited from\", \"keyword\" : \"inherited\" } ], \"lang_name\" : \"Proto-West Germanic\", \"term\" : \"*-laus\", \"status\" : \"ok\", \"lang\" : \"gmw-pro\" } ], \"keyword_label\" : \"Inherited from\", \"keyword\" : \"inherited\" } ], \"lang_name\" : \"Old English\", \"term\" : \"-lēas\", \"status\" : \"ok\", \"lang\" : \"ang\" } ], \"keyword_label\" : \"Inherited from\", \"keyword\" : \"inherited\" } ], \"lang_name\" : \"Middle English\", \"term\" : \"-les\", \"status\" : \"ok\", \"lang\" : \"enm\" } ], \"keyword_label\" : \"Inherited from\", \"keyword\" : \"inherited\" } ], \"lang_name\" : \"English\", \"term\" : \"-less\", \"status\" : \"ok\", \"lang\" : \"en\" } ], \"keyword_label\" : \"From\", \"is_group\" : true, \"keyword\" : \"affix\" } ], \"lang_name\" : \"English\", \"term\" : \"will-less\", \"status\" : \"ok\", \"lang\" : \"en\" }\" data-lang=\"en\" data-title=\"will-less\">\nFrom will + -less.",
      "name": "ety"
    }
  ],
  "etymology_text": "Etymology tree\nEnglish will\nProto-Indo-European *lewh₁-\nProto-Indo-European *lewHs-der.\nProto-Germanic *leusaną\nProto-Germanic *lausaz\nProto-Germanic *-lausaz\nProto-West Germanic *-laus\nOld English -lēas\nMiddle English -les\nEnglish -less\nEnglish will-less\nFrom will + -less.",
  "forms": [
    {
      "form": "willless",
      "tags": [
        "alternative"
      ]
    }
  ],
  "head_templates": [
    {
      "args": {
        "1": "-",
        "head": "will-less"
      },
      "expansion": "will-less (not comparable)",
      "name": "en-adj"
    }
  ],
  "lang": "English",
  "lang_code": "en",
  "pos": "adj",
  "senses": [
    {
      "antonyms": [
        {
          "word": "determined"
        },
        {
          "word": "resolute"
        },
        {
          "word": "willful"
        }
      ],
      "categories": [
        {
          "_dis": "54 0 46",
          "kind": "other",
          "name": "English entries with etymology texts",
          "parents": [],
          "source": "w+disamb"
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        {
          "_dis": "54 0 46",
          "kind": "other",
          "name": "English entries with etymology trees",
          "parents": [],
          "source": "w+disamb"
        },
        {
          "_dis": "46 7 46",
          "kind": "other",
          "name": "English terms suffixed with -less",
          "parents": [],
          "source": "w+disamb"
        }
      ],
      "glosses": [
        "Of a person, lacking volition, not exercising one's will."
      ],
      "id": "en-will-less-en-adj-iv8qB7Tz",
      "links": [
        [
          "volition",
          "volition"
        ]
      ],
      "related": [
        {
          "_dis1": "86 1 13",
          "sense": "lacking volition",
          "word": "certain"
        }
      ],
      "synonyms": [
        {
          "word": "irresolute"
        }
      ],
      "tags": [
        "not-comparable"
      ],
      "translations": [
        {
          "_dis1": "86 0 13",
          "code": "de",
          "lang": "German",
          "lang_code": "de",
          "sense": "of a person, lacking volition, not exercising one's will",
          "word": "willenlos"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "86 0 13",
          "code": "pl",
          "lang": "Polish",
          "lang_code": "pl",
          "sense": "of a person, lacking volition, not exercising one's will",
          "word": "bezwolny"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "86 0 13",
          "code": "sv",
          "lang": "Swedish",
          "lang_code": "sv",
          "sense": "of a person, lacking volition, not exercising one's will",
          "word": "viljelös"
        }
      ]
    },
    {
      "glosses": [
        "Of an action, involuntary."
      ],
      "id": "en-will-less-en-adj-MB9vmyse",
      "links": [
        [
          "involuntary",
          "involuntary"
        ]
      ],
      "tags": [
        "not-comparable"
      ]
    },
    {
      "categories": [
        {
          "_dis": "41 6 53",
          "kind": "other",
          "name": "English entries referencing missing etymons",
          "parents": [],
          "source": "w+disamb"
        },
        {
          "_dis": "54 0 46",
          "kind": "other",
          "name": "English entries with etymology texts",
          "parents": [],
          "source": "w+disamb"
        },
        {
          "_dis": "54 0 46",
          "kind": "other",
          "name": "English entries with etymology trees",
          "parents": [],
          "source": "w+disamb"
        },
        {
          "_dis": "31 3 67",
          "kind": "other",
          "name": "English entries with incorrect language header",
          "parents": [],
          "source": "w+disamb"
        },
        {
          "_dis": "46 7 46",
          "kind": "other",
          "name": "English terms suffixed with -less",
          "parents": [],
          "source": "w+disamb"
        },
        {
          "_dis": "24 0 76",
          "kind": "other",
          "name": "Entries with translation boxes",
          "parents": [],
          "source": "w+disamb"
        },
        {
          "_dis": "20 0 80",
          "kind": "other",
          "name": "Pages using etymon with no ID",
          "parents": [],
          "source": "w+disamb"
        },
        {
          "_dis": "22 0 78",
          "kind": "other",
          "name": "Pages with 1 entry",
          "parents": [],
          "source": "w+disamb"
        },
        {
          "_dis": "10 0 90",
          "kind": "other",
          "name": "Pages with entries",
          "parents": [],
          "source": "w+disamb"
        },
        {
          "_dis": "26 0 74",
          "kind": "other",
          "name": "Pages with etymology trees",
          "parents": [],
          "source": "w+disamb"
        },
        {
          "_dis": "22 5 73",
          "kind": "other",
          "name": "Terms with German translations",
          "parents": [],
          "source": "w+disamb"
        },
        {
          "_dis": "25 5 71",
          "kind": "other",
          "name": "Terms with Polish translations",
          "parents": [],
          "source": "w+disamb"
        },
        {
          "_dis": "21 5 74",
          "kind": "other",
          "name": "Terms with Swedish translations",
          "parents": [],
          "source": "w+disamb"
        }
      ],
      "examples": [
        {
          "bold_text_offsets": [
            [
              8,
              17
            ]
          ],
          "text": "He died will-less.",
          "type": "example"
        }
      ],
      "glosses": [
        "Intestate; without a legal will governing one's property or estate."
      ],
      "id": "en-will-less-en-adj-hKU7Jgwq",
      "links": [
        [
          "Intestate",
          "intestate"
        ],
        [
          "will",
          "will"
        ]
      ],
      "tags": [
        "not-comparable"
      ]
    }
  ],
  "word": "will-less"
}
{
  "categories": [
    "English adjectives",
    "English entries referencing missing etymons",
    "English entries with etymology texts",
    "English entries with etymology trees",
    "English entries with incorrect language header",
    "English lemmas",
    "English multiword terms",
    "English terms derived from the Proto-Indo-European root *lewh₁-",
    "English terms suffixed with -less",
    "English uncomparable adjectives",
    "Entries with translation boxes",
    "Pages using etymon with no ID",
    "Pages with 1 entry",
    "Pages with entries",
    "Pages with etymology trees",
    "Terms with German translations",
    "Terms with Polish translations",
    "Terms with Swedish translations"
  ],
  "derived": [
    {
      "word": "will-lessly"
    },
    {
      "word": "will-lessness"
    }
  ],
  "etymology_templates": [
    {
      "args": {
        "1": "en",
        "2": ":af",
        "3": "will",
        "4": "-less",
        "text": "+",
        "tree": "1"
      },
      "expansion": "Etymology tree\nEnglish will\nProto-Indo-European *lewh₁-\nProto-Indo-European *lewHs-der.\nProto-Germanic *leusaną\nProto-Germanic *lausaz\nProto-Germanic *-lausaz\nProto-West Germanic *-laus\nOld English -lēas\nMiddle English -les\nEnglish -less\nEnglish will-less\n[Appendix:Glossary#derived_terms|Derived]] from\", \"terms\" : [ { \"alt\" : \"*lewHs-\", \"lang_name\" : \"Proto-Indo-European\", \"status\" : \"inline\", \"children\" : [ { \"terms\" : [ { \"children\" : [ ], \"lang_name\" : \"Proto-Indo-European\", \"term\" : \"*lewh₁-\", \"status\" : \"ok\", \"lang\" : \"ine-pro\" } ], \"keyword_label\" : \"From\", \"keyword\" : \"from\" } ], \"lang\" : \"ine-pro\" } ], \"keyword\" : \"derived\" } ], \"lang_name\" : \"Proto-Germanic\", \"term\" : \"*leusaną\", \"status\" : \"ok\", \"lang\" : \"gem-pro\" } ], \"keyword_label\" : \"From\", \"keyword\" : \"from\" } ], \"lang_name\" : \"Proto-Germanic\", \"term\" : \"*lausaz\", \"status\" : \"ok\", \"lang\" : \"gem-pro\" } ], \"keyword_label\" : \"From\", \"keyword\" : \"from\" } ], \"lang_name\" : \"Proto-Germanic\", \"term\" : \"*-lausaz\", \"status\" : \"ok\", \"lang\" : \"gem-pro\" } ], \"keyword_label\" : \"Inherited from\", \"keyword\" : \"inherited\" } ], \"lang_name\" : \"Proto-West Germanic\", \"term\" : \"*-laus\", \"status\" : \"ok\", \"lang\" : \"gmw-pro\" } ], \"keyword_label\" : \"Inherited from\", \"keyword\" : \"inherited\" } ], \"lang_name\" : \"Old English\", \"term\" : \"-lēas\", \"status\" : \"ok\", \"lang\" : \"ang\" } ], \"keyword_label\" : \"Inherited from\", \"keyword\" : \"inherited\" } ], \"lang_name\" : \"Middle English\", \"term\" : \"-les\", \"status\" : \"ok\", \"lang\" : \"enm\" } ], \"keyword_label\" : \"Inherited from\", \"keyword\" : \"inherited\" } ], \"lang_name\" : \"English\", \"term\" : \"-less\", \"status\" : \"ok\", \"lang\" : \"en\" } ], \"keyword_label\" : \"From\", \"is_group\" : true, \"keyword\" : \"affix\" } ], \"lang_name\" : \"English\", \"term\" : \"will-less\", \"status\" : \"ok\", \"lang\" : \"en\" }\" data-lang=\"en\" data-title=\"will-less\">\nFrom will + -less.",
      "name": "ety"
    }
  ],
  "etymology_text": "Etymology tree\nEnglish will\nProto-Indo-European *lewh₁-\nProto-Indo-European *lewHs-der.\nProto-Germanic *leusaną\nProto-Germanic *lausaz\nProto-Germanic *-lausaz\nProto-West Germanic *-laus\nOld English -lēas\nMiddle English -les\nEnglish -less\nEnglish will-less\nFrom will + -less.",
  "forms": [
    {
      "form": "willless",
      "tags": [
        "alternative"
      ]
    }
  ],
  "head_templates": [
    {
      "args": {
        "1": "-",
        "head": "will-less"
      },
      "expansion": "will-less (not comparable)",
      "name": "en-adj"
    }
  ],
  "lang": "English",
  "lang_code": "en",
  "pos": "adj",
  "related": [
    {
      "sense": "lacking volition",
      "word": "certain"
    }
  ],
  "senses": [
    {
      "antonyms": [
        {
          "word": "determined"
        },
        {
          "word": "resolute"
        },
        {
          "word": "willful"
        }
      ],
      "glosses": [
        "Of a person, lacking volition, not exercising one's will."
      ],
      "links": [
        [
          "volition",
          "volition"
        ]
      ],
      "synonyms": [
        {
          "word": "irresolute"
        }
      ],
      "tags": [
        "not-comparable"
      ]
    },
    {
      "glosses": [
        "Of an action, involuntary."
      ],
      "links": [
        [
          "involuntary",
          "involuntary"
        ]
      ],
      "tags": [
        "not-comparable"
      ]
    },
    {
      "categories": [
        "English terms with usage examples"
      ],
      "examples": [
        {
          "bold_text_offsets": [
            [
              8,
              17
            ]
          ],
          "text": "He died will-less.",
          "type": "example"
        }
      ],
      "glosses": [
        "Intestate; without a legal will governing one's property or estate."
      ],
      "links": [
        [
          "Intestate",
          "intestate"
        ],
        [
          "will",
          "will"
        ]
      ],
      "tags": [
        "not-comparable"
      ]
    }
  ],
  "translations": [
    {
      "code": "de",
      "lang": "German",
      "lang_code": "de",
      "sense": "of a person, lacking volition, not exercising one's will",
      "word": "willenlos"
    },
    {
      "code": "pl",
      "lang": "Polish",
      "lang_code": "pl",
      "sense": "of a person, lacking volition, not exercising one's will",
      "word": "bezwolny"
    },
    {
      "code": "sv",
      "lang": "Swedish",
      "lang_code": "sv",
      "sense": "of a person, lacking volition, not exercising one's will",
      "word": "viljelös"
    }
  ],
  "word": "will-less"
}

Download raw JSONL data for will-less meaning in English (4.6kB)


This page is a part of the kaikki.org machine-readable English dictionary. This dictionary is based on structured data extracted on 2026-06-15 from the enwiktionary dump dated 2026-06-01 using wiktextract (03da280 and 7f4db16). The data shown on this site has been post-processed and various details (e.g., extra categories) removed, some information disambiguated, and additional data merged from other sources. See the raw data download page for the unprocessed wiktextract data.

If you use this data in academic research, please cite Tatu Ylonen: Wiktextract: Wiktionary as Machine-Readable Structured Data, Proceedings of the 13th Conference on Language Resources and Evaluation (LREC), pp. 1317-1325, Marseille, 20-25 June 2022. Linking to the relevant page(s) under https://kaikki.org would also be greatly appreciated.