wil|ly-nil|ly

wil|ly-nil|ly
wil|ly-nil|ly «WIHL ee NIHL ee», adverb, adjective.
–adv.
1. willingly or not; with or against one's wishes.
2. in a disordered manner; helter-skelter: »

Books were piled willy-nilly in the attic.

–adj.
2. that is such, or that takes place, whether one wishes or not: »

a willy-nilly spinster; a willy-nilly current of sensations (Tennyson).

╂[< early phrase will I (he, ye), nill I (he, ye); nill not will, Old English nyllan < ne not + willan will]

Useful english dictionary. 2012.

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Look at other dictionaries:

  • wil·ly-nil·ly — /ˌwıliˈnıli/ adv 1 : in a careless and unplanned way They decided willy nilly to change the rules. 2 : in a way that does not allow any choices or planning We are being forced willy nilly to accept whatever the government decides …   Useful english dictionary

  • wil — af·wil·lite; be·wil·der; be·wil·dered·ly; be·wil·dered·ness; be·wil·der·ing·ly; be·wil·der·ment; blou·wil·de·bees·oog; clan·wil·liam; cur·wil·let; mord·wil·ko·ja; pil·wil·let; wil·bur·ite; wil·co; wil·de·beest; wil·de; wil·der·ment; wil·der·muth… …   English syllables

  • ly-nil — wil·ly nil·ly; …   English syllables

  • nil — ace·to·va·nil·lone; an·thra·nil·ic; cam·pa·nil·la; car·ba·nil; car·ba·nil·ate; car·ba·nil·ic; car·ba·nil·ide; cor·o·nil·lin; ju·ve·nil·i·ty; mag·nil·o·quence; mag·nil·o·quent; ma·nil·la; med·i·nil·la; met·a·nil·ic; met·a·nil; mo·nil·e·thrix;… …   English syllables

  • ly-wil — nil·ly wil·ly; wil·ly wil·ly; …   English syllables

  • willy-nilly — wil·ly nil·ly …   English syllables

  • willy-nilly — /wil ee nil ee/, adv. 1. in a disorganized or unplanned manner; sloppily. 2. whether one wishes to or not; willingly or unwillingly: He ll have to do it willy nilly. adj. 3. shilly shallying; vacillating. 4. disorganized, unplanned; sloppy: willy …   Universalium

  • willy-nilly — wil|ly nil|ly [ ,wıli nıli ] adverb 1. ) in a careless way, without planning: They can t just spend money willy nilly. Books lay scattered through the house willy nilly. 2. ) if something happens willy nilly, it happens whether you want it to or… …   Usage of the words and phrases in modern English

  • willy-nilly — wil•ly nil•ly [[t]ˈwɪl iˈnɪl i[/t]] adv. 1) whether one wishes to or not; willingly or unwillingly 2) cvb in a disorganized or unplanned manner; sloppily 3) shilly shallying; vacillating 4) cvb disorganized; unplanned; sloppy • Etymology:… …   From formal English to slang

  • Willy nilly — Wil ly nil ly Whether I (he, she, they) want to or not. See {Will I, nill I}, etc., under 3d {Will}. [1913 Webster] …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

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