velleity

Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for April 10, 2008 is: velleity • \vuh-LEE-uh-tee\  • noun 1 : the lowest degree of volition 2 : a slight wish or tendency : inclination Examples: Samuel sometimes mentions that he would like to go back to school, but his interest strikes me as more of a velleity than a firm statement of purpose. Did you know? Allow us, if you will, to volunteer our knowledge about "velleity." It is a derivative of the New Latin noun "velleitas," from the Latin verb "velle," meaning "to wish or will." You might also wish to know that "velle" is the word that gave us "voluntary" (by way of Anglo-French "voluntarie" and Latin "voluntarius") and "volunteer" (by way of French "voluntaire"). While both of those words might imply a wish to do something (specifically, to offer one's help) and the will to act upon it, the less common "velleity" refers to a wish or inclination that is so insignificant that a person feels little or no compulsion to act. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.