- voluntary
- voluntary [väl′ən ter΄ē]adj.[ME voluntarie < L voluntarius, voluntary < voluntas, free will < volo, I wish: see VOLITION]1. brought about by one's own free choice; given or done of one's own free will; freely chosen or undertaken2. acting in a specified capacity willingly or of one's own accord3. intentional; not accidental [voluntary manslaughter]4. controlled by one's mind or will [voluntary muscles]5. having free will or the power of free choice [man is a voluntary agent]6.a) supported by contributions or freewill offerings; not supported or maintained by the state [voluntary churches]b) done or carried on by or made up of volunteers rather than by people paid or conscripted7. arising in the mind without external constraint; spontaneous8. Lawa) acting or done without compulsion or persuasionb) done without profit, payment, or any valuable considerationn.pl. voluntariesMusic a piece or solo, often an improvisation, played on the organ before, during, or after a church servicevoluntarily [väl΄ən ter′ə lē]adv.SYN.- VOLUNTARY implies the exercise of one's own free choice or will in an action, whether or not external influences are at work [voluntary services ]; INTENTIONAL applies to that which is done on purpose for a definite reason and is in no way accidental [an intentional slight ]; DELIBERATE implies full realization of the significance of what one intends to do and of its effects [a deliberate lie ]; WILLFUL implies obstinate and perverse determination to follow one's own will despite influences, arguments, advice, etc. in opposition [a willful refusal ]
English World dictionary. V. Neufeldt. 2014.