in|vol|un|tar|y

in|vol|un|tar|y
in|vol|un|tar|y «ihn VOL uhn TEHR ee», adjective.
1. not voluntary; not done of one's own free will; unwilling: »

He was threatened until he gave involuntary consent to the plan.

SYNONYM(S): compulsory, forced.
2. not intended; not done on purpose: »

an involuntary injury. An accident is involuntary. The driver of the truck was indicted for involuntary manslaughter and reckless driving (Time).

 SYNONYM(S): unintentional, inadvertent.
3. not controlled by the will; under the control of some mechanism operating independently of the cerebral cortex: »

Breathing is mainly involuntary.

SYNONYM(S): instinctive. See syn. under automatic. (Cf. ↑automatic)
╂[< Late Latin involuntārius < in- not + Latin voluntārius voluntary]
–in|vol´un|tar´i|ly, adverb.
–in|vol´un|tar´i|ness, noun.

Useful english dictionary. 2012.

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Look at other dictionaries:

  • vol|un|tar|y — «VOL uhn TEHR ee», adjective, noun, plural tar|ies. –adj. 1. done, made, given, undertaken, or entered into, of one s own choice; not forced or compelled: »a voluntary contribution, to go into voluntary exile. 2. maintained or supported by… …   Useful english dictionary

  • vol|un|tar|i|ly — «VOL uhn TEHR uh lee, VOL uhn TAIR », adverb. of one s own choice; without force or compulsion: »Did you do that voluntarily, or did someone force you to do it by threats? SYNONYM(S): willingly …   Useful english dictionary

  • vol|un|tar|i|ness — «VOL uhn TEHR ee nihs», noun. the quality or state of being voluntary: »They assumed that socialism would bring…a new attitude toward work, which would become a matter of joy and voluntariness (Wall Street Journal) …   Useful english dictionary

  • vol|un|tar|y|ism — «VOL uhn TEHR ee ihz uhm», noun. 1. the principle or system under which churches, schools, and other institutions are supported by voluntary contributions or assistance, rather than by the state. 2. the principle or method of voluntary service:… …   Useful english dictionary

  • vol|un|tar|y|ist — «VOL uhn TEHR ee ihst», noun. a person who believes in or advocates voluntaryism, especially in religion …   Useful english dictionary

  • in|vol´un|tar´i|ly — in|vol|un|tar|y «ihn VOL uhn TEHR ee», adjective. 1. not voluntary; not done of one s own free will; unwilling: »He was threatened until he gave involuntary consent to the plan. SYNONYM(S): compulsory, forced. 2. not intended; not done on purpose …   Useful english dictionary

  • in|vol´un|tar´i|ness — in|vol|un|tar|y «ihn VOL uhn TEHR ee», adjective. 1. not voluntary; not done of one s own free will; unwilling: »He was threatened until he gave involuntary consent to the plan. SYNONYM(S): compulsory, forced. 2. not intended; not done on purpose …   Useful english dictionary

  • sem|i|vol|un|tar|y — «SEHM ee VOL uhn TEHR ee», adjective. partly voluntary …   Useful english dictionary

  • tar — ac·e·tar·i·ous; ac·ro·tar·si·al; ac·ro·tar·si·um; acu·ti·plan·tar; al·mu·can·tar; al·pha·be·tar·i·an; al·tar; al·tar·age; al·tar·ist; an·i·mal·i·tar·i·an·ism; an·tiq·ui·tar·i·an; ar·ma·men·tar·i·um; as·tar·te; at·tar; au·tar·chic;… …   English syllables

  • Tar baby — was a doll made of tar and turpentine, used to entrap Br er Rabbit in the second of the Uncle Remus stories. The more that Br er Rabbit fought the Tar Baby, the more entangled he became. In contemporary usage, tar baby refers to any sticky… …   Wikipedia

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