MEANING
A slight wish or inclination that does not develop into a determined intention or action.
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Words that belong together
- a passing velleity
- mere velleity
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His wish to apologize remained a velleity until the chance had passed.
She felt a brief velleity to follow him but stayed by the window.
Related words
Word forms
- Base
- velleity
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Usage notes
Primary category: literary. Forms: Singular velleity; plural velleities. Legacy lexical fields mirror sense 1 only. Use numbered sense fields for all meanings.
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