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A.Word.A.Day--nolens volens

Pronunciation RealAudio

nolens volens (NO-lens VO-lens) adverb

Whether willingly or unwillingly (mostly the latter), willy-nilly.

[From Latin, from nolens, present participle of nolle (to be unwilling) + volens, present participle of velle (to wish or to be willing).]

"Prince Duong-Chaer, third son of King Norodom of Cambodia, was yesterday compelled nolens volens to leave Paris for Algeria." In Our Pages; International Herald Tribune (Paris, France); Aug 27, 1993.

This week's theme: terms from Latin.

X-Bonus

Matters of religion should never be matters of controversy. We neither argue with a lover about his taste, nor condemn him, if we are just, for knowing so human a passion. -George Santayana, philosopher (1863-1952)

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