Velleity
/vəˈliː.ɪ.ti/noun
A slight or weak wish, desire, or inclination.
Did you know?Velleity comes from Latin velle, meaning “to wish” or “to will,” so the word literally points to desire so faint it never fully becomes a will.
Etymological Timeline
Latin
Latin
velle
“to wish, want, or will”
Late Latin
Latin
velleitas
“a feeble wish or inclination”
16th–17th Century
English
velleity
“a slight wish or imperfect volition”
Modern English
English
velleity
“a weak or barely formed desire”
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