evil willer en · NOUN
Meanings
-
(archaic) One who harbours ill will (toward someone).
When he was entred upon his desperate undertaking, whether it were by some losses received, or some Mutiny in his Army, or some glorious rumour of the Egyptians strenth, his evil willers took courage to rebel against him;
1675, Samuel Clarke, “The Life and Death of Nebuchadnezzar the Great, First Emperour of the Chaldeans”, in The lives & deaths of most of those eminent persons who by their virtue and valour obtained the sirnames of Magni,or the Great, London: W.B, page 4:[…] as he was in his dysporte of huntynge, he was by his euyll willers slayne, when he hadde ruled skarsly .iii. yeres.
1533, Robert Fabyan, Fabyans Cronycle, London: William Rastell, Part 2, Chapter 35:Surely the swords of me and my sons avail not so little for Witchland in this country of our evil-willers that we should sheathe ’em and go home.
1922, E[ric] R[ücker] Eddison, chapter 20, in The Worm Ouroboros: A Romance, London: Jonathan Cape […], →OCLC:And being returned to his Maister, the king demaunding who should be meete to sende againe for that purpose: Answered, if the king had any enemy or euill-willer, to send him. For he should receiue him againe wel whipped and beaten, if he escape with his life.
1599, Robert Pont, Against Sacrilege, Edinburgh: Robert Waldegrave, Sermon 3:
Forms
| Spelling | Features | Labels | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| evil willers | Number=Plur | lexicographic |
Antonyms
well-willer · good willer · well-wisher