The animosity which he had long borne to Earl Godwin, made him averse to the succession of his son, and he could not, without extreme reluctance, think of an increase of grandeur to a family which had risen on the ruins of royal authority, and which, by the murder of Alfred his brother, had contributed so much to the weakening of the Saxon line.

The states of the duchy were assembled at Lislebonne; and supplies being demanded for the intended enterprise, which promised so much glory and advantage to their country, there appeared a reluctance in many members, both to grant sums so much beyond the common measure of taxes in that age, and to set a precedent of performing their military service at a distance from their own country.

The houses were reduced to ashes by the merciless Normans; the cattle seized and driven away; the instruments of husbandry destroyed; and the inhabitants compelled either to seek for a subsistence in the southern parts of Scotland, or if they lingered in England, from a reluctance to abandon their ancient habitations, they perished miserably in the woods from cold and hunger.

"Molly is almost painfully thin," his companion conceded, with apparent reluctance, "and I think she makes up far more than she need.

Had she guessed that it was Sarah Gailey's affair upon which George Cannon had desired to see her, she would not have delayed an hour; no reluctance to meet George Cannon would have caused her to tarry.

His reluctance to comply was increased by the belief that there were certain persons at Edinburgh to whom his principles had given offence, and in whose neighbourhood he did not expect to live so quietly as he wished.

Next year he was made to work at a stocking-loom, preparatively to his learning the business of a hosier; but his mother, seeing the reluctance with which he engaged in an employment so ill-suited to his temper and abilities, prevailed on his father, though not without much difficulty, to fix him in the office of Messrs. Coldham and Endfield, attorneys in Nottingham.

con amore [It], heart in hand, nothing loth, without reluctance, of one's own accord, graciously, with a good grace.

Unwillingness N. unwillingness &c adj.; indisposition, indisposedness^; disinclination, aversation^; nolleity^, nolition^; renitence^, renitency; reluctance; indifference &c 866; backwardness &c adj.; slowness &c 275; want of alacrity, want of readiness; indocility &c (obstinacy) 606 [Obs.].

706. reluctance &c (unwillingness) 603; contraindication.

I should without reluctance acquiesce in retirement if the Duke could fill my office more advantageously, and I believe Rosslyn would do.

If we were to give up the monopoly we had better do so at once, on the first day of the Session, with a good grace, and not make ourselves appear to do it with reluctance.

I think his reluctance increases to put an end to the present system.

It is much more likely that it was owing to a reluctance to study questions of naval defence as industriously as they deserved, and to that moral timidity which so often tempts even men of proved physical courage to undertake the impossible task of making themselves absolutely safe against hostile efforts at every point.

She advanced timidly, with a reluctance which she was not wholly able to conceal, and passively submitted to a caress from the nurse.

She hesitated, and then with a touch of reluctance continued: "I succeeded until a month or so ago.

She sat silent for some seconds, and when she answered, it was with a great reluctance.

He uttered the word with reluctance, and almost with an air of shame.

CHAPTER XI AT THE GATE OF LAHORE Shere Ali, accordingly, travelled with reluctance to Bombay, and at that port an anonymous letter with the postmark of Calcutta was brought to him on board the steamer.

Let it be admitted, however, that a man may be "a good fellow" and yet have a bad temper, so bad that we recognise his merits with reluctance, and are inclined to resent his occasionally amiable behaviour as an unfair demand on our admiration.

Hence, with a show of reluctance, he yielded.

And yet, as my travelling companion assured me, this reverend slave-holder gravely and pathetically complained of the reluctance of the slaves to attend family worship!

Boswell suppresses the scene with obvious reluctance, his openness being checked for once by filial respect.

And Bubbles, with a touch of reluctance, got up and left the three men to whom she was talking.

"We understand and respect your reluctance to receive visitors and will stay no longer than necessary.