a. Obs. [f. willes, gen. of WILL sb.1 + -FUL.]

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  1.  Strong-willed; obstinate: = WILFUL a.1 1.

2

a. 1240.  Sawles Warde, in O. E. Hom., I. 257. Þe willesfule husewif halt hire al stille.

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c. 1290.  Beket, 1291, in S. Eng. Leg., I. 143. Þe Erchebischop is willesful [v.r. wilful] and ȝwane he is alles i-brouȝt In ani wille þat is luytel wuyrth he nele bi-leue it nouȝt. Ibid., I. 319. Sone old and nouȝt willesfol.

4

1297.  R. Glouc. (Rolls), 7402. He ne let noȝt clupie al is folc so willesfol he was.

5

1340.  Ayenb., 263. Huych mayne to moche slac and wylles uol ssel by, bote yef þe ilke uaderes stefhede hise strayny and ordayny.

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  2.  Desirous: = WILFUL a.1 2.

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a. 1225.  Ancr. R., 56. Ȝif eni is onwil [MS. T. ful willes ful] uorte iseon ou.

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c. 1290.  S. Eng. Leg., I. 435. Þis Maidenes þat beotþ willesfole folie forto do.

9

  Hence † Wilsfully adv., wilfully; eagerly.

10

13[?].  E. E. Allit. P., B. 268. Þay … controeued agayn kynde contrare werkez, & vsed hem … wylsfully, vpon a wrange wyse.

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1340–70.  Alisaunder, 590. Þat worthlych too þis wight wilsfully saide: ‘Fro what kith bee yee comme?’

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