voluntary English · revision 10522

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=borrowing|attested=c. 1385|origins=la voluntarius}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: UK /ˈvɒl.ən.tər.i/, /ˈvɒl.ən.tri/, US /ˈvɑː.lən.ter.i/^(Roach et al. 2011)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is, partly through Anglo-French voluntarie (Old French volontaire), [[bor|la|voluntārius|t=of one's free will]],^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988)^(Hoad 1986) from voluntās, will,^(Barnhart 1988)^(Hoad 1986) which is formed from the present participle of velle, to wish (see [[will]]).^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline)^(Hoad 1986)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ Of feelings, arising in the mind without outside pressure: about 1385, in Usk's Testament of Love,^(Barnhart 1988)^(OED 1989) late 14th century in Etymonline.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ Of actions, done of one's own free will, is from about 1449,^(OED 1989) and of bodily movements controlled by the will (voluntary muscles) from about 1400.^(OED 1989) The noun, an organ piece played before or after a service, is from the 1590s in Etymonline, perhaps so called because it was not prescribed by the rubrics,^(Etymonline) the 18th century in Hoad.^(Hoad 1986) Voluntary work and voluntary organizations, run by volunteers, belong to modern use.^(Collins 2023) ''Volunteer'' is a doublet from the late 16th century, first a military word.^(Barnhart 1988)^(Cresswell 2021)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * c. 1385 – arising from the will.^(Barnhart 1988)^(OED 1989)

+ * c. 1400 – of bodily movement, voluntary.^(OED 1989)

+ * c. 1449 – done of one's free will.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1590s – an organ voluntary.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Adjective===

+ # Done or given by free [[choice]], without being forced or asked: ''a voluntary donation''.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # Acting or serving willingly and without [[pay]].^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # Run or supported by [[volunteer|alt=volunteers]]: ''a voluntary organization''.^(Collins 2023)

+ # Of muscles or movements, controlled by the will.^(AHD)

+

+ ===Noun===

+ # A piece for solo [[organ]], often improvised, played before, during or after a church service.^(AHD)^(Hoad 1986)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[voluntarily]]

+ * [[voluntariness]]

+ * [[nonvoluntary]]

+ * [[semivoluntary]]

+ * [[unvoluntary]]

+ * [[voluntary muscle]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[voluntarism]]

+ * [[will]]

+ * [[volition]]

+ * [[volunteer]]

+ * [[benevolent]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}