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A Dictionary of the Older Scottish Tongue (up to 1700)

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First published 2002 (DOST Vol. XII).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

Wele willand, Weil(l) willand, ppl. adj. and n. Also: welle-, weyl willand, weil(l)-, weall-, weele willing, weil willyng, ueiluilling. Pl. also weil willance. [ME and e.m.E. wel willand (Manning), wele willyng (c1430), Du. welwillend; Willing ppl. adj.]

A. adj.Well disposed, friendly (to a person); ready (to do (something), in a matter).(1) 1375 Barb. v 41 (C).
He fand nane weill willand [E. weill luffand] Bot all war fais that euir he fand 1540 St. P. Henry VIII IV ii 182.
Oure gud weilwilland freindis and allyais 1572 Buch. Detect. (1727) 90.
Hir kinnismen and weill-willing freindis 1596 James VI in Facs. Nat. MSS III lxxiv.
I take you to be als ueiluilling in that maittir as euer ye uas 1600-1610 Melvill 410.
They cam in a loving and weil-willing maner to inquyre 1600-1610 Melvill 621.
Ane old man, weill-willing, but not skillfull(2) c1420 Wynt. vii 2888 (W).
Dauid of Bernham, … To quham the pape wes wele willand 1533 Gau 23/27.
Thow sal be weil willand and cheritabil to euerie man 1548 Melville Chart. 89.
Y wald I wer good and weilwilland to the captanis [etc.](3) 1432 Lamont P. 13.
He … salbe redy and weyl willand to hald the landis … vnder ward [etc.] 1513 Doug. v xii 85.
Weil willyng 1565 Breadalbane Lett.
That ye ar so weill willing to agrie with Makgregour 1558-66 Knox II 345.
The freindis of the said lord war eather not with him, or ellis not weall willing to feght that nycht 1611 Reid Auchterarder 15.
In his … clemencie … being weele willing to showe favour to such

B. absol. as noun. Well disposed, compliant persons, well wishers, friends. c1420 Wynt. vii 3046.
Gudys … That langyd till hym or till hys men And off his welle willandys [C. weil willandis, W. weill willandis] 1423 (1429–30) Reg. Great S. 30/2.
Til al lordis our frenddis and wele willand effectuusly we pray 1494 Deidis of Armorie 2.
In the maner that he thinkis mast profitable … for his prince and for the souerte of al his weil willance 1569 Reg. Privy C. I 677.
That the weill willing may be rememberit, and the obstinat constrenit to thair dewitie