Velleity
[və-LEE-ə-dee]
Part of speech: noun
Origin: Latin, 17th century
1.
A wish or inclination not strong enough to lead to action.
Examples of Velleity in a sentence
"Although I saw the uncut grass, I recognized my velleity to cut the lawn and retreated to the porch to read."
"We were famished but felt a velleity to cook and instead opted to order in."
About Velleity
“Velleity” comes from the Latin “velleitās,” which is based on the Latin “velle” (meaning “wish,” or “will”).
Did you Know?
“Velleity” describes the paradoxical state of wanting to do something but having so little motivation as to not be bothered with it. It’s not the same thing as indifference or opposition: Someone experiencing velleity does want something to occur, but they don’t feel the volition or desire to make that happen themselves. People feel velleity on a regular basis related to chores around the home. Nearly everyone would like their house to be a little tidier, or would like to make improvements to make life easier or more enjoyable. But these chores are balanced against the energy and desire to do the work they require, and this is where velleity asserts itself. Each time a person surveys the dishes and decides they’ll have to wait until tomorrow, they are experiencing velleity.
