01 a. Proceeding from the will; produced in or by an act of choice.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.(Physiol.)
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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.
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6.
Free; without compulsion; according to the will, consent, or agreement, of a party; without consideration; gratuitous; without valuable consideration.(Law)
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7.
Of or pertaining to voluntaryism; as, a voluntary church, in distinction from an established or state church.(Eccl.)
Phrases & compounds
Voluntary affidavit —
an affidavit or oath made in an extrajudicial matter.
Voluntary conveyance —
a conveyance without valuable consideration.
Voluntary escape —
the escape of a prisoner by the express consent of the sheriff.
Syn.
See Spontaneous.