meaning of voluntary
1. Proceeding from the will; produced in or by an act of choice.
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 ones self, or of itself; free.
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. 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.
6. Free; without compulsion; according to the will, consent, or agreement, of a party; without consideration; gratuitous; without valuable consideration.
7. Of or pertaining to voluntaryism; as, a voluntary church, in distinction from an established or state church.
8. One who engages in any affair of his own free will; a volunteer.
9. A piece played by a musician, often extemporarily, according to his fancy; specifically, an organ solo played before, during, or after divine service.
10. One who advocates voluntaryism.
11. composition often improvised for a solo instrument especially solo organ and not a regular part of a service or performance
Related Words
voluntary | voluntary muscle | voluntaryism |
