How Do You Spell WILLFULLY?

Pronunciation: [wˈɪlfəlɪ] (IPA)

The word "willfully" is spelled with two Ls, despite the fact that the sound represented by the second L is often silent. This is due to its origin in Old English, where the word was spelled "wilfullīce." The IPA phonetic transcription of "willfully" is /ˈwɪlfəli/, with the stressed syllable being the first one. The final syllable is pronounced with a schwa sound followed by a clear /li/ ending, which accounts for the second L in the spelling of the word.

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WILLFULLY Meaning and Definition

  1. Willfully is an adverb that describes an action or behavior done with intention or purpose, particularly when it involves a conscious choice to act in a certain way despite knowing it is wrong or against the rules. It implies a deliberate and voluntary decision to proceed with an action despite having knowledge of any potential negative consequences or moral implications associated with it.

    When someone acts willfully, they typically demonstrate a level of intentionality that suggests they are fully aware of the potential outcomes but choose to proceed anyway. This can involve breaking a law, defying authority, or engaging in actions that harm oneself or others. The term carries a certain degree of culpability or blameworthiness because it suggests that the individual acted deliberately, without coercion or ignorance.

    For an action to be considered willful, it must reflect a decision made consciously and be carried out with full awareness of the consequences. It signifies a deviation from expected behavior or compliance, indicating a defiance or disregard for societal norms, rules, or regulations.

    The term is often employed in the legal context to establish intent or motive. A willful act, in this sense, denotes a calculated and deliberate choice to act in a particular manner, which may result in legal repercussions due to its intentional or premeditated nature.

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* The statistics data for these misspellings percentages are collected from over 15,411,110 spell check sessions on www.spellchecker.net from Jan 2010 - Jun 2012.

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Etymology of WILLFULLY

The word "willfully" is derived from the Middle English term "wilfulli" which dates back to the 14th century. It is a combination of two elements: "will" and "-ful" with the addition of the suffix "-ly".

The term "will" originally comes from Old English "willan" meaning "to wish, desire, or be willing". It stems from the Proto-Germanic word "*wiljanan" which has the same meaning.

The suffix "-ful" is used to form an adjective implying "full of" or "characterized by". It has roots in Middle English, ultimately originating from Old English "-ful" which shares its origin with the German "-voll" or Dutch "-vol".

Finally, the suffix "-ly" is an adverb-forming suffix originating from Middle English, which has its roots in Old English "-lice".

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