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.