attrib. use of WILL sb.1 (as in OE. wilcuma, WELCOME); only in OE. and early ME. compounds = (a) pleasant, welcome, (b) voluntary: wil-daȝe, a welcome day; wil-ȝeoue [GIVE sb.1], a voluntary or free gift; wil-gomen [GAME sb.], pleasant sport; wil-shrift, voluntary confession; wil-spell, wil-tidende [TIDING], welcome news.

1

a. 900.  Cynewulf, Crist, 459. Hy þæs lareowes on þam *wildæʓe word ne ʓehyrwdon hyra sincʓiefan.

2

c. 1205.  Lay., 1798. Þat heo heora wil-daȝes wælden weoren.

3

a. 1225.  Ancr. R., 368. ‘Me Sire,’ þu onswerest me, ‘sulleð God his grace? Nis grace *wil-ȝeoue?’

4

a. 1225.  St. Marher., 16. Hwet so ich am þurh godes grace ich hit do ant am wilȝeoue unofseruet.

5

c. 1205.  Lay., 20944. Castles biwinnen & *wilgomen wurchen.

6

a. 1225.  Ancr. R., 340. Wel seið he, ‘is iflured’: vorte bitochen *wilschrift.

7

a. 900.  Cynewulf, Elene, 993. Wæs him frofra mæst ʓeworden in worlde æt ðam *willspelle.

8

c. 1205.  Lay., 1350. A steores-man ham talde wil-spel. Ibid., 17090. Komen to þan kinge *wil-tidende.

9