Etymology Explorer › English

Where does “nolens volens” come from?

nolens volens (English) comes from Latin nolens, from Latin nolo, from Latin volo, from Proto-Italic welō, from Proto-Indo-European welh₁- — to choose; to want.

nolens volens (English): Willing or unwilling; willy-nilly

Definitions

  1. Willing or unwilling; willy-nilly

Ancestry of “nolens volens”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Latinnolensnot willing; refusing
2LatinnoloI am unwilling, I do not wish, I do not want, I...
3LatinvoloI wish; I want; I mean, I intend
4Proto-Italicwelōto want, will
5Proto-Indo-Europeanwelh₁-to choose; to want
Every word from Proto-Indo-European welh₁- →