velleity

Ms. Marcus also errantly dismissed the Constitution’s separation of powers, which entrusts “all legislative powers” to Congress, as a mere velleity that should yield to executive legislation when Congress is divided.

It was the least effort he could spend — a velleity — to appease them and avoid being sent to the gulag, or worse.

There 27 is such a thing as real effective volition, and there is something which strives to be such and fails; this latter we might call “velleity.”

They have but the velleity of the eunuch.

But these velleities are foolish and venially sinful, and often on account of danger they are mortally sinful.