- vol|un|tar|y
- 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 voluntary gifts: »a voluntary hospital, a voluntary church or school.
3. acting of one's own free will or choice: »Voluntary workers built a road to the boys' camp.
4. able to act of one's own free will: »People are voluntary agents.
5. a) done, given, or proceeding from the free or unconstrained will of a person: »a voluntary affidavit. The thief's confession was voluntary.
b) acting or done without obligation or without receiving a valuable consideration: »a voluntary partition of land.
c) deliberately intended; done on purpose, not by accident: »voluntary manslaughter. Voluntary disobedience will be punished.
6. controlled by the will: »Talking is voluntary, breathing is only partly so.
–n.1. anything done, made, given, or entered into, of one's own free will.2. a) a piece of music, often improvised, played as a prelude. b) an organ solo played before, during, or after a church service.3. = volunteer. (Cf. ↑volunteer)╂[< Latin voluntārius < voluntās will < vol-, stem of velle to wish. See related etym. at volunteer. (Cf. ↑volunteer)]Synonym Study adjective. 1 Voluntary, spontaneous mean done, made, given or entered into, without being forced or compelled. Voluntary emphasizes that it is done of one's own free will or choice: »The state is supported by taxes, the church by voluntary contributions.
Spontaneous emphasizes that it is done from natural impulse, without thought or intention: »The laughter at his jokes is never forced, but always spontaneous.
Useful english dictionary. 2012.