with a will

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with a will

1. (idiomatic, dated) With willingness and zeal; with all one's heart or strength; earnestly; heartily.
   • 1859, Lord Alfred Tennyson, The Grandmother, stanza 15:

     So Willy and I were wedded: I wore a lilac gown; / And the ringers rang with a will, and he gave the ringers a crown.

   • 1874, Thomas Hardy, chapter XLVII, in Far from the Madding Crowd. […], volumes (please specify |volume=I or II), London: Smith, Elder & Co., […], →OCLC:

     Backing their oars and putting the boat about, they pulled towards him with a will.

   • 1881–1882, Robert Louis Stevenson, chapter 10, in Treasure Island, London, Paris: Cassell & Company, published 14 November 1883, →OCLC:

     And then the whole crew bore chorus:— / "Yo-ho-ho, and a bottle of rum!" / And at the third "Ho!" drove the bars before them with a will.

   • 1914 June, James Joyce, “After the Race”, in Dubliners, London: Grant Richards, →OCLC:

     Then an impromptu square dance, the men devising original figures. What merriment! Jimmy took his part with a will.

   • 1934 March 26, "Books: Hurstwurst" (book review of Anitra's Dance by Fannie Hurst), Time:

     Many a reader whose appetite rejoices in hearty fare tucked in his napkin, smacked his lips and fell to with a will.

• “with a will”, in OneLook Dictionary Search.