volunteer English · revision 6801

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=borrowing|attested=c. 1600|origins=la voluntas}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: /ˌvɒl(ə)nˈtɪə/ ''(UK)''; /ˌvɑlənˈtɪ(ə)ɹ/, /ˌvɒlənˈtɪɹ/ ''(US)''^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[bor|frm|voluntaire|t=a volunteer; voluntary]],^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline)^(MWU 2024) from [[la|voluntārius|t=voluntary, of one's free will]], in the plural meaning volunteers,^(Etymonline)^(SOED 2002) from [[m|la|voluntas|t=will]] (see [[voluntary]]).^(Barnhart 1988)^(MWU 2024) The ending was changed to [[-eer]].^(NODE 1998)^(SOED 2002)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ A person who freely enrols for military service: about 1600,^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline)^(MWU 2024) before 1618 in the OED.^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ A member of a military force raised by voluntary enrolment is from 1642.^(OED 1989) The general sense, one who offers his services in any capacity, is from 1638,^(Barnhart 1988)^(OED 1989) and a plant growing from self-sown seed by the 1650s.^(Etymonline) The verb, to enlist as a soldier, is first recorded in Johnson's Dictionary of 1755;^(Barnhart 1988)^(OED 1989) to offer something of one's own free will, such as information, is by 1800.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * c. 1600 – a military volunteer.^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline)

+ * 1638 – one who serves of his own will.^(Barnhart 1988)^(OED 1989)

+ * 1650s – a self-sown plant.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1755 – the verb, in Johnson.^(Barnhart 1988)^(OED 1989)

+ * 1800 – to offer freely.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Noun===

+ # A person who does a task or service of his or her own free will, often without pay.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # A person who freely joins the [[military]].^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # ''(law)'' A person who receives property without giving [[consideration]].^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # A plant growing from self-sown seed.^(AHD)

+

+ ===Verb===

+ # To offer oneself or one's services freely.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # To give or tell something without being asked: ''volunteer information''.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[volunteerism]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[voluntarism]]

+ * [[voluntary]]

+ * [[volition]]

+ * [[benevolent]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}