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voluntary - 8 dictionary results
vol⋅un⋅tar⋅y
[vol-uh
n-ter-ee] 
adjective, noun, plural -tar⋅ies.–adjective
| 1. | done, made, brought about, undertaken, etc., of one's own accord or by free choice: a voluntary contribution. |
| 2. | of, pertaining to, or acting in accord with the will: voluntary cooperation. |
| 3. | of, pertaining to, or depending on voluntary action: voluntary hospitals. |
| 4. | Law.
|
| 5. | Physiology. subject to or controlled by the will. |
| 6. | having the power of willing or choosing: a voluntary agent. |
| 7. | proceeding from a natural impulse; spontaneous: voluntary laughter. |
–noun
| 8. | something done voluntarily. |
| 9. | a piece of music, frequently spontaneous and improvised, performed as a prelude to a larger work, esp. a piece of organ music performed before, during, or after an office of the church. |
Origin:
1350–1400; ME < L voluntārius, equiv. to volunt(ās) willingness, inclination (ult. repr. a formation with -tās -ty 2 on the prp. of velle to want, wish; see will 1 , -ent ) + -ārius -ary
1350–1400; ME < L voluntārius, equiv. to volunt(ās) willingness, inclination (ult. repr. a formation with -tās -ty 2 on the prp. of velle to want, wish; see will 1 , -ent ) + -ārius -ary
Related forms:
vol⋅un⋅tar⋅i⋅ly [vol-uhn-tair-uh-lee, vol-uhn-ter-] , adverb
[vol-uhn-tair-uh-lee, vol-uhn-ter-] , adverb vol⋅un⋅tar⋅i⋅ness, noun
Synonyms:
1. considered, purposeful, planned, intended, designed. See deliberate. 7. free, unforced, natural, unconstrained. Voluntary, spontaneous agree in applying to something that is a natural outgrowth or natural expression arising from circumstances and conditions. Voluntary implies having given previous consideration, or having exercised judgment: a voluntary confession; a voluntary movement; The offer was a voluntary one. Something that is spontaneous arises as if by itself from the nature of the circumstances or condition: spontaneous applause, combustion, expression of admiration.
1. considered, purposeful, planned, intended, designed. See deliberate. 7. free, unforced, natural, unconstrained. Voluntary, spontaneous agree in applying to something that is a natural outgrowth or natural expression arising from circumstances and conditions. Voluntary implies having given previous consideration, or having exercised judgment: a voluntary confession; a voluntary movement; The offer was a voluntary one. Something that is spontaneous arises as if by itself from the nature of the circumstances or condition: spontaneous applause, combustion, expression of admiration.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
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Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
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|
Link To voluntary
| vol·un·tar·y (vŏl'ən-těr'ē) adj.
[Middle English, from Latin voluntārius, from voluntās, choice, from velle, vol-, to wish; see wel-1 in Indo-European roots.] vol'un·tar'i·ly (-târ'ə-lē) adv., vol'un·tar'i·ness n. Synonyms: These adjectives mean being or resulting from one's own free will. Voluntary implies the operation of unforced choice: "Ignorance, when it is voluntary, is criminal" (Samuel Johnson). |
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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Voluntary
Vol"un*ta*ry\, a. [L. voluntarius, fr. voluntas will, choice, from the root of velle to will, p. pr. volens; akin to E. will: cf. F. volontaire, Of. also voluntaire. See Will, v. t., and cf. Benevolent, Volition, Volunteer.]1. Proceeding from the will; produced in or by an act of choice. That sin or guilt pertains exclusively to voluntary action is the true principle of orthodoxy. --N. W. Taylor. 2. Unconstrained by the interference of another; unimpelled by the influence of another; not prompted or persuaded by another; done of his or its own accord; spontaneous; acting of one's self, or of itself; free. Our voluntary service he requires. --Milton. She fell to lust a voluntary prey. --Pope. 3. Done by design or intention; intentional; purposed; intended; not accidental; as, if a man kills another by lopping a tree, it is not voluntary manslaughter. 4. (Physiol.) Of or pertaining to the will; subject to, or regulated by, the will; as, the voluntary motions of an animal, such as the movements of the leg or arm (in distinction from involuntary motions, such as the movements of the heart); the voluntary muscle fibers, which are the agents in voluntary motion. 5. Endowed with the power of willing; as, man is a voluntary agent. God did not work as a necessary, but a voluntary, agent, intending beforehand, and decreeing with himself, that which did outwardly proceed from him. --Hooker. 6. (Law) Free; without compulsion; according to the will, consent, or agreement, of a party; without consideration; gratuitous; without valuable consideration. 7. (Eccl.) Of or pertaining to voluntaryism; as, a voluntary church, in distinction from an established or state church. Voluntary affidavit or oath (Law), an affidavit or oath made in extrajudicial matter. Voluntary conveyance (Law), a conveyance without valuable consideration. Voluntary escape (Law), the escape of a prisoner by the express consent of the sheriff. Voluntary jurisdiction. (Eng. Eccl. Law) See Contentious jurisdiction, under Contentious. Voluntary waste. (Law) See Waste, n., 4. Syn: See Spontaneous.Voluntary
Vol"un*ta*ry\, n.; pl. Voluntaries. 1. One who engages in any affair of his own free will; a volunteer. [R.] --Shak. 2. (Mus.) A piece played by a musician, often extemporarily, according to his fancy; specifically, an organ solo played before, during, or after divine service. 3. (Eccl.) One who advocates voluntaryism.
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary, © 1996, 1998 MICRA, Inc.
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Language Translation for : voluntary
Spanish:
voluntario,
German:
freiwillig,
Japanese:
自発的な
voluntary
c.1374 (implied in voluntarily), from L. voluntarius "of one's free will," from voluntas "will," from the ancient accusative singular prp. of velle "to wish" (see will (v.)). Originally of feelings, later also of actions (c.1449).
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper
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Main Entry: vol·un·tary
Pronunciation: 'vä-l&n-"ter-E
Function: adjective
1 a : proceeding from one's own free choice or consent rather than as the result of duress, coercion, or deception voluntary statement> b : not compelled by law : done as a matter of choice or agreement <voluntary arbitration> c : made freely and with an understanding of the consequences voluntary plea of guilty>
2 : done by design or intention
3 : made without valuable consideration or for nominal consideration voluntary conveyance> —vol·un·tar·i·ly /"vä-l&n-'ter-&-lE/ adverb —vol·un·tar·i·ness noun
Merriam-Webster's Dictionary of Law, © 1996 Merriam-Webster, Inc.
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Main Entry: vol·un·tary
Pronunciation: 'väl-&n-"ter-E
Function: adjective
1 : proceeding from the will or from one's ownchoice or consent
2 : of, relating to, subject to, or regulated by the will <voluntary behavior> —vol·un·tari·ly adverb
Merriam-Webster's Medical Dictionary, © 2002 Merriam-Webster, Inc.
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voluntary vol·un·tar·y (vŏl'ən-těr'ē)
adj.
- Arising from or acting on one's own free will.
- Normally controlled by or subject to individual volition, as of respiration.
- Capable of making choices; having the faculty of will.
The American Heritage® Stedman's Medical Dictionary
Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company.
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Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company.
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