velleity
The lowest degree of desire or volition; a total lack of effort to act.
countable, uncountable
Rousseau showed through life a singular proneness for being convinced by his own eloquence; he was always his own first convert; and this reconciles his power as a writer with his weakness as a man. He and all like him mistake emotion for conviction, velleity for resolve, the brief eddy of sentiment for the midcurrent of ever-gathering faith in duty that draws to itself all the affluents of conscience and will, and gives continuity and purpose to life.
A slight wish not followed by any effort to obtain.
countable, uncountable
All were born late enough to breathe the atmosphere of the new poetry young; all had poetical velleities, and a certain amount, if not of originality, of capacity to write poetry. But they were not poets; they were only poetical curiosities.
Where it comes from
From Medieval Latin velleitās, from Latin velle (“wish, will”).
Adapted from the Wiktionary entry velleity (CC BY-SA 4.0).