nill

[ nil ]

/ nɪl /

Archaic.

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verb (used without object), nilled, nill·ing.

to be unwilling: will he, nill he.

verb (used with object), nilled, nill·ing.

to refuse or reject.

QUIZ

CAN YOU ANSWER THESE COMMON GRAMMAR DEBATES?

There are grammar debates that never die; and the ones highlighted in the questions in this quiz are sure to rile everyone up once again. Do you know how to answer the questions that cause some of the greatest grammar debates?

Question 1 of 7

Which sentence is correct?

His boss, whom he admires, is waiting to meet with him about the big project.

His boss, who he admires, is waiting to meet with him about the big project.

TAKE THE QUIZ TO FIND OUT

Origin of nill

before 900; Middle English nillen,Old English nyllan, contraction of phrase ne willan; see no¹, will¹, willy-nilly

Words nearby nill

Nile River, Niles, Nile Valley, nilgai, Nilgiri Hills, nill, Nilometer, Nilópolis, Nilo-Saharan, Nilote, Nilotic

How to use nill in a sentence

Sir, said Epinegris, is that the rule of you errant knights for to make a knight to joust, will he or nill?
Le Morte D'Arthur, Volume II (of II)|Thomas Malory
Will you nill you, the men-at-arms will follow me to victory!
Joan of Arc|Laura E. Richards
Count upward from the bottom of the second column, and the 46th word is “nill he,” so printed for concealment.
The Little Cryptogram|J. Gilfin Pyle
Will I, nill I, the ineffable thing has tied me to him; tows me with a cable I have no knife to cut.
Moby Dick; or The Whale|Herman Melville

The chances are his mind will fly off, will-he-nill-he, to some utterly different matter.
Castle Richmond|Anthony Trollope