3  definitions  found 
 
  From  Webster's  Revised  Unabridged  Dictionary  (1913)  [web1913]: 
 
  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}. 
 
  From  Webster's  Revised  Unabridged  Dictionary  (1913)  [web1913]: 
 
  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. 
 
  From  WordNet  r  1.6  [wn]: 
 
  voluntary 
  adj  1:  of  your  own  free  will  or  design;  not  forced  or  compelled; 
  "man  is  a  voluntary  agent";  "participation  was 
  voluntary";  "voluntary  manslaughter";  "voluntary 
  generosity  in  times  of  disaster";  "voluntary  social 
  workers";  "a  voluntary  confession"  [ant:  {involuntary}] 
  2:  (physiology)  controlled  by  individual  volition;  "voluntary 
  motions";  "voluntary  muscles"  [ant:  {involuntary}] 
  n  1:  a  person  who  freely  enlist  for  military  service  [syn:  {volunteer}, 
  {military  volunteer}]  [ant:  {draftee}] 
  2:  composition  (often  improvised)  for  a  solo  instrument 
  (especially  solo  organ)  and  not  a  regular  part  of  a 
  service  or  performance 

browse words by letter
a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z
or search   thesauri dictionary search words