voluntary

3 entries found for voluntary.
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voluntary[1,adjective] voluntary[2,noun] voluntary muscle

Main Entry: ¹vol·un·tary
Pronunciation: 'vä-l&n-"ter-E
Function: adjective
Etymology: Middle English, from Anglo-French voluntarie, from Latin voluntarius, from voluntas will, from velle to will, wish -- more at WILL
1 : proceeding from the will or from one's own choice or consent
2 : unconstrained by interference : SELF-DETERMINING
3 : done by design or intention : INTENTIONAL <voluntary manslaughter>
4 : of, relating to, subject to, or regulated by the will <voluntary behavior>
5 : having power of free choice
6 : provided or supported by voluntary action <a voluntary organization>
7 : acting or done of one's own free will without valuable consideration or legal obligation
- vol·un·tar·i·ly adverb
- vol·un·tar·i·ness noun
synonyms VOLUNTARY, INTENTIONAL, DELIBERATE, WILLING mean done or brought about of one's own will. VOLUNTARY implies freedom and spontaneity of choice or action without external compulsion <a voluntary confession>. INTENTIONAL stresses an awareness of an end to be achieved <the intentional concealment of vital information>. DELIBERATE implies full consciousness of the nature of one's act and its consequences <deliberate acts of sabotage>. WILLING implies a readiness and eagerness to accede to or anticipate the wishes of another <willing obedience>.