Obs. [OE. unwilla (UN-1 4 b, 12), = MLG. unwille, MDu. onwille (Du. onwil), OS. *unwillo (gen. unwilles), OHG. unwillo (MHG., G. unwille), ON. and Icel. úvili (Da. uvilje, Sw. ovilja), displeasure, reluctance.]
1. Used adverbially, in genitive (usually with possessive pron.): Against one’s will; unwillingly.
The normal OE. genitive unwillan is replaced by unwilles on the analogy of willes (see WILL sb.1 10) and other adverbial genitives. For the adverbial use, cf. OS. unwilles, MLG. unwillens, older Flem. onwillens, MDu. mijns onwillen.
c. 893. K. Ælfred, Oros., VI. xxxviii. Siþþan sæton þa Gotan þær on lande, sume be þæs caseres willan, sume his unwillan.
c. 1000. in Thorpe, Laws, II. 182. ʓif he hit dide unwilles.
c. 1000. Ælfric, Saints’ Lives, ix. 87. Þeah þu mine hand ahebbe to ðinum hæþenʓilde, And swa þurh me ʓeoffriʓe mines unwilles.
a. 1225. Juliana, 6 (Roy. MS.). Affrican … ȝettede him his dohter, & wes sone ihondsald al hire unwilles.
c. 1375. Sc. Leg. Saints, vii. (James), 373. Þe men als þare wnwillis Suld to þe prince be brocht thrillis.
b. At (or again) one’s unwilles, = prec. rare–1.
Cf. ON. at uvilja einhvers against one’s will.
c. 1400. Anturs of Arth., 424 (Ireland MS.). Ȝette schalle thou wring thi hondus,… Or any we schild hom weld, atte my unnewilles [Douce MS. agayne myne vmwylles].
2. Something displeasing or undesired; that which is against a person’s will or wish; (one’s) dislike or aversion.
c. 1000. in Sal. & Saturn (1848), 262. Nafu ðu to yfel ellen. ðeah ðe sum unwilla on becume.
a. 1023. Wulfstan, Hom., 12. He dryhð deofles wyllan and godes unwillan.
a. 1200. St. Marher., 13. Ich mot nede, ant neoðeles min unwil hit is to don al þat ti wil is.
c. 1200. Trin. Coll. Hom., 133. Here [he] wuneð on wanrede and þoleð his unwille.
a. 1225. Juliana (Bodl. MS.), 7. Ha wes him sone ihondsald þah hit hire unwil were.
a. 1250. Owl & Night., 422. Þu farest so doþ þe ille, Euerich blisse him is vnwille.
a. 1300. Cursor M., 25261. Lauerd gif vs to Grace in erth þi wil to do, For to forber all þin vnwil.
