definitions

velleity

[ vuh-lee-i-tee ]
/ vəˈli ɪ ti /
SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR velleity ON THESAURUS.COM

noun, plural vel·le·i·ties.

volition in its weakest form.
a mere wish, unaccompanied by an effort to obtain it.

RELATED WORDS

desire, capability, penchant, aptitude, predisposition, leaning, disposition, propensity, bias, prejudice, preference, impulse, temperament, predilection, appetite, affection, proclivity, affinity, purpose, discipline

Nearby words

velic, veliger, velikiye luki, velitation, velites, velleity, vellicate, vellore, vellum, vellus, velma

Origin of velleity

1610–20; < New Latin velleitās, equivalent to Latin velle to be willing + -itās -ity
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

British Dictionary definitions for velleity

velleity

/ (vɛˈliːɪtɪ) /

noun plural -ties rare

the weakest level of desire or volition
a mere wish

Word Origin for velleity

C17: from New Latin velleitās, from Latin velle to wish
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Word Origin and History for velleity

velleity

n.

1610s, from Medieval Latin stem of velleitas (from Latin velle "to wish, will;" see will (v.)) + -ity.

Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper