wil-attrib. use of will n.1 (as in OE.wilcuma, welcome); only in OE. and early ME. compounds = (a) pleasant, welcome, (b) voluntary: wil-daȝe, a welcome day; wil-ȝeoue[give n.1], a voluntary or free gift; wil-gomen[game n.], pleasant sport; wil-shrift, voluntary confession; wil-spell, wil-tidende[tiding], welcome news.a900Cynewulf Crist 459 Hy þæs lareowes on þam *wildæᵹe word ne ᵹehyrwdon hyra sincᵹiefan.c1205Lay. 1798 Þat heo heora wil-daȝes wælden weoren.a1225Ancr. R. 368 ‘Me Sire,’ þu onswerest me, ‘sulleð God his grace? Nis grace *wil-ȝeoue?’a1225St. Marher. 16 Hwet so ich am þurh godes grace ich hit do ant am wilȝeoue unofseruet.c1205Lay. 20944 Castles biwinnen & *wilgomen wurchen.a1225Ancr. R. 340 Wel seið he, ‘is iflured’: vorte bitochen *wilschrift.a900Cynewulf Elene 993 Wæs him frofra mæst ᵹeworden in worlde æt ðam *willspelle.c1205Lay. 1350 A steores-man ham talde wil-spel.Ibid. 17090 Komen to þan kinge *wil-tidende.