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.

If I did so, I should be indulging in vain velleities, in which my personality, far from realising itself, would on the contrary be disintegrated and scattered.

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.