Word Meanings - VOLUNTARY - Book Publishers vocabulary database

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

Additional info about word: VOLUNTARY

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. (more info) 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. 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.

Possible synonyms: (Same meaning words of VOLUNTARY)

• Gratuitous
• Free
• uncompensated
• voluntary
• unwarranted
• groundless
• wanton
• unnecessary
• unsought
• Instinctive
• Natural
• spontaneous
• intuitive
• impulsive
• Spontaneous
• Voluntary
• self-generated
• self-originated
• self-evolved
• willing
• unbidden
• gratuitous

Related words: (words related to VOLUNTARY)

• WILLOWER
  A willow. See Willow, n., 2.
• UNWARRANTABLE
  Not warrantable; indefensible; not vindicable; not justifiable; illegal; unjust; improper. -- Un*war"rant*a*ble*ness, n. -- Un*war"rant*a*bly, adv.
• SPONTANEOUS
  1. Proceding from natural feeling, temperament, or disposition, or from a native internal proneness, readiness, or tendency, without constraint; as, a spontaneous gift or proportion. 2. Proceeding from, or acting by, internal impulse, energy, or
• NATURALIST
  1. One versed in natural science; a student of natural history, esp. of the natural history of animals. 2. One who holds or maintains the doctrine of naturalism in religion. H. Bushnell.
• NATURAL STEEL
  Steel made by the direct refining of cast iron in a finery, or, as wootz, by a direct process from the ore.
• WILLING
  1. Free to do or to grant; having the mind inclined; not opposed in mind; not choosing to refuse; disposed; not averse; desirous; consenting; complying; ready. Felix, willing to show the Jews a pleasure, left Paul bound. Acts xxiv. 27. With wearied
• WILLIWAW; WILLYWAW
  A whirlwind, or whirlwind squall, encountered in the Straits of Magellan. W. C. Russell.
• WILLINGLY
  In a willing manner; with free will; without reluctance; cheerfully. Chaucer. The condition of that people is not so much to be envied as some would willingly represent it. Addison.
• WILLOW-WORT
  Same as Willow-weed. Any plant of the order Salicaceæ, or the Willow family.
• WILLEMITE
  A silicate of zinc, usually occurring massive and of a greenish yellow color, also in reddish crystals containing manganese.
• WILLY NILLY
  See WILL
• GROUNDLESS
  Without ground or foundation; wanting cause or reason for support; not authorized; false; as, groundless fear; a groundless report or assertion. -- Ground"less*ly, adv. -- Ground"less*ness, n.
• VOLUNTARY
  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
• IMPULSIVELY
  In an impulsive manner.
• WANTONNESS
  The quality or state of being wanton; negligence of restraint; sportiveness; recklessness; lasciviousness. Gower. The tumults threatened to abuse all acts of grace, and turn them into wantonness. Eikon Basilike. Young gentlemen would be as sad as
• NATURAL
  Belonging to, to be taken in, or referred to, some system, in which the base is 1; -- said or certain functions or numbers; as, natural numbers, those commencing at 1; natural sines, cosines, etc., those taken in arcs whose radii are 1. (more info)
• WILLIER
  One who works at a willying machine.
• UNWARRANTED
  Not warranted; being without warrant, authority, or guaranty; unwarrantable.
• WILLOWISH
  Having the color of the willow; resembling the willow; willowy. Walton.
• WILLOWED
  Abounding with willows; containing willows; covered or overgrown with willows. "Willowed meads." Collins.
• SUPERNATURALNESS
  The quality or state of being supernatural.
• WANTON
  wanting , hence expressing negation + towen, p. p., AS. togen, p. p. of teón to draw, to educate, bring up; hence, 1. Untrained; undisciplined; unrestrained; hence, loose; free; luxuriant; roving; sportive. "In woods and wanton wilderness."
• PRETERNATURALITY
  Preternaturalness. Dr. John Smith.
• SWILLINGS
  See 1
• UNVOLUNTARY
  Involuntary. Fuller.
• TOWILLY
  The sanderling; -- so called from its cry.
• SWILL
  To drink in great draughts; to swallow greedily. Well-dressed people, of both sexes, . . . devouring sliced beef, and swilling pork, and punch, and cider. Smollett. 3. To inebriate; to fill with drink. I should be loth To meet the rudeness
• FREEWILL
  Of or pertaining to free will; voluntary; spontaneous; as, a freewill offering. Frewill Baptists. See under Baptist.