a. [ L. voluntarius, fr. voluntas will, choice, from the root of velle to will, p. pr. volens; akin to E. will: cf. F. volontaire, Of. also voluntaire. See Will, v. t., and cf. Benevolent, Volition, Volunteer. ] 1. Proceeding from the will; produced in or by an act of choice. [ 1913 Webster ]

That sin or guilt pertains exclusively to voluntary action is the true principle of orthodoxy. N. W. Taylor. [ 1913 Webster ]

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. [ 1913 Webster ]

Our voluntary service he requires. Milton. [ 1913 Webster ]

She fell to lust a voluntary prey. Pope. [ 1913 Webster ]

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. [ 1913 Webster ]

4. (Physiol.) 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. [ 1913 Webster ]

5. Endowed with the power of willing; as, man is a voluntary agent. [ 1913 Webster ]

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. [ 1913 Webster ]

6. (Law) Free; without compulsion; according to the will, consent, or agreement, of a party; without consideration; gratuitous; without valuable consideration. [ 1913 Webster ]

7. (Eccl.) Of or pertaining to voluntaryism; as, a voluntary church, in distinction from an established or state church. [ 1913 Webster ]

Voluntary affidavit or
Voluntary oath (Law), an affidavit or oath made in an extrajudicial matter. --
Voluntary conveyance (Law), a conveyance without valuable consideration. --
Voluntary escape (Law), the escape of a prisoner by the express consent of the sheriff. --
Voluntary jurisdiction. (Eng. Eccl. Law) See Contentious jurisdiction, under Contentious. --
Voluntary waste. (Law) See Waste, n., 4. [ 1913 Webster ]

Syn. -- See Spontaneous. [ 1913 Webster ]

n.; pl. Voluntaries 1. One who engages in any affair of his own free will; a volunteer. [ R. ] Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. (Mus.) A piece played by a musician, often extemporarily, according to his fancy; specifically, an organ solo played before, during, or after divine service. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. (Eccl.) One who advocates voluntaryism. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. (Eccl.) The principle of supporting a religious system and its institutions by voluntary association and effort, rather than by the aid or patronage of the state. [ 1913 Webster ]