vəˈlēəd.ē, veˈ-, -lēətē, -i noun
( -es )
Etymology: New Latin velleitas, from Latin velle to wish, will + -itas -ity — more at will
1. : the lowest degree of desire : imperfect or incomplete volition
velleity , which is only a … faint, imperfect volition of an end, without regard to the means — Theophilus Gale
2. : a slight wish : a faint hope : desire , inclination
every wish, every velleity of his had only to be expressed to be at once Victoria's — Lytton Strachey
I have a secretary who has socialistic velleities — O.W.Holmes †1935
his velleities toward the good life, true taste, beautiful women … weakened as he drew on toward middle age — Time