nolens volens

American  

[noh-lens woh-lens, noh-lenz voh-lenz] / ˈnoʊ lɛns ˈwoʊ lɛns, ˈnoʊ lɛnz ˈvoʊ lɛnz /

adverb

Latin.

1. whether willing or not; willy-nilly.

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nolens volens British  

/ ˈnəʊlɛnz ˈvəʊlɛnz /

adverb

1. whether willing or unwilling

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Example Sentences

"Of course, sir—of course;" answered Bagsley; "were there any certainty that Mr. Jenkins would immediately return, we would postpone the matter for the day; but upon your intimation that he is detained nolens volens, I think we shall be obliged to go in pursuit of him."

From Project Gutenberg

And why not say at once that by degrees the master-genius of the age was obliged to modify his own views, yielding, nolens volens, as he himself admitted, to the graceful bearing and sound good sense of the man whose countrymen had named him the Roman Syren?

From Project Gutenberg

Such was the place into which vanished the choice spirits which poor Pat had seen, and into which Pat himself, nolens, volens, was shortly to be introduced.

From Project Gutenberg

The physician has also certain duties in relation to the public at large, as well as to his individual patients, and these duties become more numerous and important as the density of population increases, so that in the large cities of most civilized countries he finds himself, nolens volens, in almost daily contact with legally constituted authorities in the shape of registrars, health officers, coroners, etc., and is not infrequently summoned before the courts as a supposed expert in matters connected with the public health.

From Project Gutenberg

If Beethoven wished to get back the money that he had already expended, he must after all, nolens volens, submit to the demand of the manager, which was, that the Concert should take place in the theatre, on a subscription-night, at the ordinary prices; and that, for the use of it, as well as of the Chorus and Orchestra, the administration should receive the sum of one thousand florins, Vienna currency.

From Project Gutenberg