nill

American  

[nil] / nɪl /

verb (used without object)

nilled, nilling

1. to be unwilling.

   will he, nill he.

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verb (used with object)

nilled, nilling

1. to refuse or reject.

Etymology

Origin of nill

before 900; Middle English nillen, Old English nyllan, contraction of phrase ne willan ; no ¹, will ¹, willy-nilly

Example Sentences

“The punishment for disrespecting these sacred personalities was almost nill earlier,” said Abdul Akbar Chitrali, a lawmaker belonging to a religious political party and author of the bill.

From New York Times • Jan. 21, 2023

Britain needs a Post Bank to provide universal banking and local enterprise funds or a community reinvestment nill to help encourage savings back into disadvantaged areas.

From The Guardian • Jun. 17, 2010

He had posed, will he, nill he, as the earl's friend; he must submit in the future to be laughed at by the Greggs and avoided by the Homfrays.

From The New Rector by Weyman, Stanley John

The trees, the rocks, and flocks reply, The birds, the winds, the beasts report, Floods, echo, grounds, for sorrow cry, We grieve since Phillis nill kind Damon's love consort.

From Elizabethan Sonnet Cycles Phillis - Licia by Crow, Martha Foote

Will they, nill they, they would co-operate with her.

From The Executioner's Knife Or Joan of Arc by Sue, Eug?ne