English Dictionary

SELF-WILL

Pronunciation (US): Play  (GB): Play

IPA (US): 

 Dictionary entry overview: What does self-will mean? 

SELF-WILL (noun)
  The noun SELF-WILL has 2 senses:

1. resolute adherence to your own ideas or desiresplay

2. the trait of resolutely controlling your own behaviorplay

  Familiarity information: SELF-WILL used as a noun is rare.


 Dictionary entry details 


SELF-WILL (noun)


Sense 1

Meaning:

Resolute adherence to your own ideas or desires

Classified under:

Nouns denoting attributes of people and objects

Synonyms:

bullheadedness; obstinacy; obstinance; pigheadedness; self-will; stubbornness

Hypernyms ("self-will" is a kind of...):

firmness; firmness of purpose; resoluteness; resolution; resolve (the trait of being resolute)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "self-will"):

impenitence; impenitency (the trait of refusing to repent)

intransigence; intransigency (the trait of being intransigent; stubbornly refusing to compromise)


Sense 2

Meaning:

The trait of resolutely controlling your own behavior

Classified under:

Nouns denoting attributes of people and objects

Synonyms:

possession; self-command; self-control; self-possession; self-will; will power; willpower

Hypernyms ("self-will" is a kind of...):

firmness; firmness of purpose; resoluteness; resolution; resolve (the trait of being resolute)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "self-will"):

nerves (control of your emotions)

presence of mind (self-control in a crisis; ability to say or do the right thing in an emergency)


 Context examples 


“Don't you know that they are both mad with their own self-will and pride?”

(David Copperfield, by Charles Dickens)

There, he had learnt to distinguish between the steadiness of principle and the obstinacy of self-will, between the darings of heedlessness and the resolution of a collected mind.

(Persuasion, by Jane Austen)

“You, resent his self-will!” she exclaimed.

(David Copperfield, by Charles Dickens)



 Learn English with... Proverbs 
"It never rains, but it pours." (English proverb)

"When a fox walks lame, the old rabbit jumps." (Native American proverb, tribe unknown)

"There is no evil without goodness." (Armenian proverb)

"With friends like these, who needs enemies?" (Croatian proverb)



ALSO IN ENGLISH DICTIONARY:


© 2000-2023 AudioEnglish.org | AudioEnglish® is a Registered Trademark | Terms of use and privacy policy
Contact