voluntary.html - n.
1 the principle of relying on voluntary action rather than compulsion.
2 Philos. the doctrine that the will is a fundamental or dominant factor in the individual or the universe.
3 hist. the doctrine that the Church or schools should be independent of the State and supported by voluntary contributions.

voluntarist n. [irreg. f. VOLUNTARY]

voluntary.html - adj. & n.
--adj.

1 done, acting, or able to act of one's own free will; not constrained or compulsory, intentional (a voluntary gift).
2 unpaid (voluntary work).
3 (of an institution) supported by voluntary contributions.
4 Brit. (of a school) built by a voluntary institution but maintained by a local education authority.
5 brought about, produced, etc., by voluntary action.
6 (of a movement, muscle, or limb) controlled by the will.
7 (of a confession by a criminal) not prompted by a promise or threat.
8 Law (of a conveyance or disposition) made without return in money or other consideration.

--n.

(pl. -ies)
1 a an organ solo played before, during, or after a church service. b the music for this. c archaic an extempore performance esp. as a prelude to other music.
2 (in competitions) a special performance left to the performer's choice.
3 hist. a person who holds that the Church or schools should be independent of the State and supported by voluntary contributions.

Voluntary Aid Detachment (in the UK) a group of organized voluntary first-aid and nursing workers. Voluntary Service Overseas a British organization promoting voluntary work in underdeveloped countries.

voluntarily adv. voluntariness n. [ME f. OF volontaire or L voluntarius f. voluntas will]

voluntary.html - n.
hist. = VOLUNTARISM 1, 3.

voluntaryist n.

voluntary.html - n. & v.
--n.

1 a person who voluntarily undertakes a task or enters military or other service, esp. Mil. hist. a member of any of the corps of voluntary soldiers formerly organized in the UK and provided with instructors, arms, etc., by the State.
2 (usu. attrib.) a self-sown plant.

--v.

1 tr. (often foll. by to + infin.) undertake or offer (one's services, a remark or explanation, etc.) voluntarily.
2 intr. (often foll. by for) make a voluntary offer of one's services; be a volunteer. [F volontaire (as VOLUNTARY), assim. to -EER]

voluntary.html - n.
1 the principle of relying on voluntary action rather than compulsion.
2 Philos. the doctrine that the will is a fundamental or dominant factor in the individual or the universe.
3 hist. the doctrine that the Church or schools should be independent of the State and supported by voluntary contributions.

voluntarist n. [irreg. f. VOLUNTARY]

voluntary.html - adj. & n.
--adj.

1 done, acting, or able to act of one's own free will; not constrained or compulsory, intentional (a voluntary gift).
2 unpaid (voluntary work).
3 (of an institution) supported by voluntary contributions.
4 Brit. (of a school) built by a voluntary institution but maintained by a local education authority.
5 brought about, produced, etc., by voluntary action.
6 (of a movement, muscle, or limb) controlled by the will.
7 (of a confession by a criminal) not prompted by a promise or threat.
8 Law (of a conveyance or disposition) made without return in money or other consideration.

--n.

(pl. -ies)
1 a an organ solo played before, during, or after a church service. b the music for this. c archaic an extempore performance esp. as a prelude to other music.
2 (in competitions) a special performance left to the performer's choice.
3 hist. a person who holds that the Church or schools should be independent of the State and supported by voluntary contributions.

Voluntary Aid Detachment (in the UK) a group of organized voluntary first-aid and nursing workers. Voluntary Service Overseas a British organization promoting voluntary work in underdeveloped countries.

voluntarily adv. voluntariness n. [ME f. OF volontaire or L voluntarius f. voluntas will]