voluntary

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Contents

English [edit]

Etymology [edit]

From Middle English *voluntarie, from Old French volontaire, from Latin voluntarius (willing, of free will), from voluntas (will, choice, desire), from volens, present participle of velle (to will).

Pronunciation [edit]

  • (file)

Adjective [edit]

voluntary (comparative more voluntary, superlative most voluntary)

  1. Done, given, or acting of one's own free will.
  2. Working or done without payment.

Synonyms [edit]

Antonyms [edit]

Derived terms [edit]

Related terms [edit]

Translations [edit]

Adverb [edit]

voluntary (comparative more voluntary, superlative most voluntary)

  1. (obsolete) Voluntarily.
    • 1590, Edmund Spenser, The Faerie Queene, III.4:
      And all that els was pretious and deare, / The sea unto him voluntary brings [...].

Noun [edit]

voluntary (plural voluntaries)

  1. (music) A short piece of music, often having improvisation, played on a solo instrument
  2. A volunteer