a., adv. and sb. Also 5–7 voluntarye, -arie, 8 -erie; 7 volontarie. [ad. OF. voluntaire (14th c.), volontaire (16th c.; mod.F. volontaire = It. volontario, It., Sp., Pg. voluntario), or ad. L. voluntārius, f. voluntas VOLUNTY.]
A. adj. I. 1. a. Of feelings, etc.: Arising or developing in the mind without external constraint; having a purely spontaneous origin or character.
1387–8. T. Usk, Test. Love, I. vi. (Skeat), l. 146. Moche comune meyny, that have no consideracion but only to voluntary lustes withouten reson.
a. 1450. Mankind, 187, in Macro Plays, 8. Yf we wyll mortyfye owur carnall condycyon, Ande owur voluntarye dysyres.
1595. Shaks., John, V. ii. 10. Albeit we sweare A voluntary zeale, and an vn-urg’d Faith.
1633. R. Hall, in Bp. Hall’s Occas. Medit., Ded. The expressions of these voluntary and sudden thoughts of his.
1644. Milton, Educ., Wks. 1851, IV. 380. That voluntary Idea, which hath long in silence presented it self to me.
1728. Chambers, Cycl., s.v. Liberty, Tho’ all natural Inclinations be voluntary, yet they are not all free.
1822. J. MacDonald, Mem. J. Benson, 167. It requires much voluntary faith to be an infidel.
1875. Jowett, Plato (ed. 2), V. 74. Unfaithfulness is the voluntary love, as ignorance is the involuntary reception, of a lie.
1884. Ruskin, Pleas. Learn., 78. Were faith not voluntary, it could not be praised.
b. Of actions: Performed or done of one’s own free will, impulse or choice; not constrained, prompted or suggested by another.
Sometimes denoting ‘left to choice,’ ‘not required or demanded of one.’
c. 1449. Pecock, Repr., I. iv. 18. Before that … eny voluntarie or wilful assignement of God was ȝouen to the Iewis.
a. 1513. Fabyan, Chron., VII. (1811), 548. The archebysshop … shewyd vnto them seryously the voluntary renounsynge of the kyng.
1534. More, Comf. agst. Trib., II. Wks. 1206/2. Restitucion is … a thing of such necessitie, that in respect of restitucion, almes dede is but voluntary.
1551. T. Wilson, Logike, D v b. That is called voluntarie, which doth betoken any thing done freely.
1596. Shaks., Merch. V., II. i. 16. The lottrie of my destenie Bars me the right of voluntarie choosing.
1632. Lithgow, Trav., I. 7. Thy voluntary wandring, and vnconstrayned exyle.
1673. Dryden, Amboyna, Ded. This voluntary Neglect of Honours has been of rare Example in the World.
1736. Butler, Anal., I. v. Wks. 1874, I. 84. All wickedness is voluntary, as is implied in its very notion.
1780. Bentham, Princ. Legisl., viii. (1789), 79, note. By a voluntary act is meant sometimes, any act, in the performance of which the will has had any concern at all; in this sense it is synonymous to intentional.
1784. Cowper, Task, VI. 333. The horse … throwing high his heels, Starts to the voluntary race again.
1849. Robertson, Serm., Ser. IV. ix. (1876), 82. There must be some voluntary act transgressing some known law or there is no sin.
a. 1871. Grote, Eth. Fragm., v. (1876), 187. Every action is voluntary, wherein the beginning of organic motion is the will of the agent.
c. Of oaths, etc.: Proceeding from the free, unprompted or unconstrained will of a person; voluntarily made or given; spec. in Law (cf. next).
1595. Shaks., John, III. iii. 23. Thy voluntary oath Liues in this bosome, deerely cherished.
1607. Cowell, Interpr., Assumpsit, is a voluntarie promise made by word.
1729. Jacob, Law Dict., s.v. Oath, A voluntary Oath, by the Consent and Agreement of the Parties, is lawful as well as a compulsory Oath.
1769. Blackstone, Comm., IV. 137. [The perjury] is no more penal than in the voluntary extra-judicial oaths.
1782. Miss Burney, Cecilia, V. iv. The next day Miss Belfield was to tell her everything by a voluntary promise.
1828–32. Webster, Voluntary affidavit or oath, is one made in an extra-judicial matter.
1840. Penny Cycl., XVI. 382. Oaths may be either voluntary or may be imposed by a political superior.
1883. Cassell’s Encycl. Dict., s.v. Confession, There existed also an ancient practice of voluntary confession in public of private offences and secret sins.
d. Law. Or documents, proceedings, etc. (see quots.).
1625. Glanville, Voy. Cadiz (1883), 29. A voluntary certificate from some of the officers … to prove her a defective Shipp.
1724. Salkeld, Reports, III. 174. He, as a Purchaser, shall avoid this Conveyance, because it was voluntary, and therefore fraudulent.
1765–8. Erskine, Inst. Law Scot., I. ii. § 4. Voluntary [jurisdiction] was that which was exercised in matters that admitted of no opposition. Ibid., II. viii. § 17. If the wadsetter receive his money upon this intimation without compulsion,… the redemption is voluntary.
1781. J. T. Atkyns, Rep. Cases (ed. 2), II. 89. Even in voluntary settlements, if the words lean more strongly to the one construction than to the other, it must likewise prevail.
1818. Cruise, Digest (ed. 2), II. 521. The third mode of voluntary partition is, when the eldest makes the division of the lands; in which case she shall choose last. Ibid., IV. 401. Edward Bussey being possessed of a term for 59 years, by voluntary deed, conveyed it to trustees.
1845. Polson, in Encycl. Metrop., II. 848/1. A voluntary charter is granted by a superior ex mero motû.
1860. Wharton, Law Lex. (ed. 2), 757/2. Voluntary Answer, one filed by a defendant to a bill in equity, without being called upon to answer by the plaintiff.
1875. K. E. Digby, Real Prop. (1876), 373. Voluntary conveyances of estates in land, that is, conveyances without any consideration, such as money or marriage.
e. Naut. (See quot.)
1867. Smyth, Sailor’s Word-bk., 714. Voluntary charge, a document delivered with the purser’s accounts respecting provisions.
2. Physiol. Of bodily actions: Regulated or governed by the volitional faculty; subject to the will. (Cf. INVOLUNTARY a. 1 b.)
c. 1400. Lanfranc’s Cirurg., 29. Brawn is maad of fleisch, senewe, & ligamentis, & þei ben instrument [of] voluntarie meuynge.
1650. Bulwer, Anthropomet., 6. Voluntary motion depends upon the Nerves.
1651. Hobbes, Leviath., I. vi. 23. Imagination is the first internal beginning of all Voluntary Motion.
1728. Chambers, Cycl., s.v. Muscle, The Muscles of Voluntary Motion … have each of ’em their Antagonist Muscles.
1843. Graves, Syst. Clin. Med., xv. 184. The muscles of voluntary life.
1855. Bain, Senses & Int., I. ii. § 17. The Spinal Cord … is necessary to sensation and to voluntary movement (movement from feeling).
1881. Mivart, Cat, 124. Amongst the voluntary movements are the various movements of the several members.
3. Of conditions, etc.: Assumed or adopted voluntarily or by free choice; freely chosen or undertaken.
1426. Lydg., De Guil. Pilgr., 22714. Kome fforthe, and se an exanplayre Off poverte not voluntarye.
1474. Caxton, Chesse, II. v. (1883), 65. Scipion of affrique … was so poure of voluntarie pouerte yt … he was buried at ye dispencis of ye comyn good.
1581. Pettie, trans. Guazzo’s Civ. Conv., I. (1586), 45 b. The companie which we come into by chance, consisteth of many persons, but yt which is voluntarie, which we ought to couet, containeth but few folke in it.
1585. T. Washington, trans. Nicholay’s Voy., IV. xxxi. 154. Hee ended hys days in voluntarie exyle.
1611. Bible, Col. ii. 18. Let no man beguile you of your reward, in a voluntarie humilitie.
1622. T. Scott, Belg. Pismire, 1. The Creatures subjected to his gouernment, in their voluntarie obedience.
1752. Young, Brothers, III. i. I pretend ’twas voluntary flight To save a brother’s blood.
1759. Johnson, Rasselas, xxviii. They discover what nothing but voluntary blindness before had concealed.
1847. Sarah Austin, Ranke’s Hist. Ref., III. 85. The inhabitants of the town and country took a voluntary share in all the changes.
1877. Mrs. Oliphant, Makers Flor., xv. 386. His exile was voluntary, not forced like Dante’s.
transf. 1638. Sir T. Herbert, Trav. (ed. 2), 10. The dead are … laid to sleep in a neat … dormitory, his Armolets, Bracelets, and voluntary shackles accompany him. Ibid., 38. Many voluntary rings and fetters of Brasse.
b. Brought about by one’s own choice or deliberate action; self-inflicted, self-induced.
1548. Elyot, s.v. Voluntarius, Mors voluntaria, voluntarie death.
1576. Fleming, Panopl. Epist., 246, marg. Voluntarie death ought not to be attempted of any wise man.
1601. Holland, Pliny, I. 126. These make profession of voluntarie death: and … when they are disposed to die at any time, they make a great funeral fire [etc.].
1601. Shaks., Jul. C., II. i. 300. I haue made strong proofe of my Constancie, Giuing my selfe a voluntary wound Heere, in the Thigh.
1781. Cowper, Truth, 101. His voluntary pains, severe and long, Would give a barb’rous air to British song.
1878. Browning, La Saisiaz, 61. A law to contravene Voluntary passage from this life.
1891. Farrar, Darkn. & Dawn, ix. One of those creatures … who, in that age, so often took refuge from a depraved life in a voluntary death.
c. Entered into of free choice; also spec. (see quot. 1889).
1612–3. Sir H. Hobart, Reports (1650), 149. We know well that the Primitive Church … were but voluntary Congregations of beleevers.
1849. Macaulay, Hist. Eng., ii. I. 158. In some districts … the ministers formed themselves into voluntary associations, for the purpose of mutual help and counsel.
1889. Cent. Dict., s.v. Association, Voluntary association, in law, a society which is unincorporated, but is not a partnership, in that the members are not agents for one another.
4. Done of deliberate intent or purpose; designed, intentional.
(a) 1495. Rolls of Parlt., VI. 488/1. She theryn [sc. in lands devised to her] doyng noe voluntary Waste ne Destruccion.
1544. trans. Littleton’s Tenures (1574), 15 b. If the lessee at wil make voluntarye wast, as in pullinge downe of houses, or in cuttinge or fellinge of trees.
1766. Blackstone, Comm., II. 281. Waste is either voluntary, which is a crime of commission, as by pulling down a house; or it is permissive.
1867. Smyth, Sailor’s Word-bk., 714. Voluntary stranding, the beaching or running a vessel purposely aground to escape greater danger.
(b) 1530–1. Act 22 Hen. VIII., c. 9 § 1. Consyderyng that … voluntary murders [are] moste highly to be detested and abhorred.
a. 1602. W. Perkins, Cases Consc. (1606), 18. If a man be lopping a tree, and his axe head fall from the helve, out of his hand, and kills another passing by; here is indeede manslaughter, but no voluntarie murther.
b. Law. Of escapes: Deliberately permitted or connived at.
1660. Young, Vade Mecum (ed. 6), 94. Voluntary [escape] is when one hath arrested another for felony or other crime, and doth afterwards suffer him to go whither he will.
1769. Blackstone, Comm., IV. 130. Voluntary escapes, by consent and connivance of the officer, are a much more serious offence.
1797. Tomlins, Jacob’s Law Dict., s.v. Escape, If the marshal of the King’s Bench … or any other who hath the keeping of prisons in fee, suffer a voluntary escape, it is a forfeiture of the office.
5. Of gifts, etc.: Freely or spontaneously bestowed, rendered or made; contributed voluntarily or by reason of generous or charitable motives.
1580. G. Harvey, Let. Spenser, S.’s Wks. (1912), 627/2. A small voluntarie Supplement of his owne … in commendation of hir … thrice excellent Maiestie.
1614. Raleigh, Hist. World, II. xvii. § 8. 490. He exhorted all others to a voluntary contribution.
1651. Hobbes, Leviath., III. xlii. 287. A common stock of mony, raised out of the voluntary contributions of the faithfull.
1682. Penn, in Clarkson, Mem. (1813), I. 321. Let the Lord have a voluntary share of your income for the good of the poor.
1728. Chambers, Cycl., Charity Schools, are Schools erected and maintain’d in various Parishes, by the voluntary Contributions of the Inhabitants.
1797. Burke, Regic. Peace, iii. Wks. VIII. 359. Nor is it every contribution, called voluntary, which is according to the free will of the giver.
1800. Asiatic Ann. Reg., Misc. Tracts, 335/1. Neither shall any subsidy be exacted from them,… what they furnish shall be voluntary.
1818. Cruise, Digest (ed. 2), III. 46. The clergy were supported by the voluntary offerings of their flocks.
1845. Encycl. Metrop., XIII. 918/2. Voluntary contributions in aid of the national resources.
1897. Westm. Gaz., 2 March, 2/3. You have got to go to the school whether you like to or not, whilst the ‘voluntary’ part of the maintenance is just twopence out of every shilling.
II. 6. † a. Of the will, etc.: Free, unforced, unconstrained. Obs.
1508. Fisher, 7 Penit. Ps. cxxx. Wks. (1876), 230. We knowe … that almyghty god of his owne voluntary wyll and gracyous volunty … redemed vs.
1560. Daus, trans. Sleidane’s Comm., 206. Duke Maurice served themperour … of hys oune voluntarye mynde.
1563. Golding, Cæsar, I. (1565), 33 b. Consideryng he offered of his own voluntary wil, the thing he hadde before denied when it was requested.
b. Voluntary faculty, the will.
1867. Alden, Elem. Intell. Philos., xxvi. 261. By the voluntary faculty, or the will, we mean simply the capacity of the mind to perform acts of volition.
7. Of persons: That is such of one’s own accord or free choice; acting voluntarily, willingly or spontaneously in a specified capacity; also, endowed with the faculty of willing.
1594. Hooker, Eccl. Pol., I. iii. § 2. God did not worke as a necessary but a voluntary agent.
1611. Shaks., Cymb., III. v. 158. That thou wilt be a voluntarie Mute to my designe.
1642. Fuller, Holy & Prof. St., III. xx. 205. No pity is to be shown to such voluntary cripples.
1667. Milton, P. L., X. 61. Sending thee Mans Friend, his Mediator, his design’d Both Ransom and Redeemer voluntarie.
1754. Edwards, Freed. Will, II. iv. 50. The Soul is an active Being in Nothing further than it is a voluntary or elective Being.
1776. Gibbon, Decl. & F., ii. I. 43. These voluntary exiles were engaged, for the most part, in the occupations of commerce.
1868. Huxley, Lay Serm., iii. (1870), 46. The greatest voluntary wanderers and colonists the world has ever seen.
† b. Serving as a volunteer soldier; that is a volunteer; also, composed of volunteers. Obs.
1586. Acts Privy Council, N.S. XIV. 55. A Commission … to levie … the number of 150 voluntarie footemen.
1590. Sir J. Smyth, Disc. Weapons, Ded. 5 b. The souldiors thereby being made voluntary, haue obeyed their Captaines no otherwise than hath pleased themselues.
1604. E. Grimstone, Hist. Siege Ostend, 30. The Arch-duke had caused … a volontarie Gentleman … to be put in prison.
1632. Lithgow, Trav., VIII. 350. I left Mr. Bruce with a Galley Captaine a voluntary Souldier.
1647. Clarendon, Hist. Reb., VI. § 249. Sr Nicholas Slanning’s, and Colonel Trevannion’s Voluntary Regiments.
c. poet. Of a sword: Offered freely or willingly in aid of some cause.
1761. Gray, Epit. Sir W. Williams, ii. At Aix his voluntary sword he drew, There first in blood his infant honor seal’d.
1808. Scott, Marm., IV. Introd. Eleven years we now may tell, Since … our hand First drew the voluntary brand.
† 8. Favorably inclined or disposed (to do something); willing, ready. Obs.
1597. A. M., Guillemeau’s Fr. Chirurg., f iv. I am so voluntarye to communicate the same vnto certayne of my goode frendes.
1638. in Picton, L’pool Munic. Rec. (1883), I. 133. The greater parte of the Common Councell … beinge all voluntary tendered to lend [to] the towne for the expedicion of the towne’s business att London.
1668. Marvell, Corr., Wks. (Grosart), II. 263. He should be so much more at liberty to show how voluntary and affectionate he was to your Corporation.
1741–2. Gray, Agrippina, 36. When yet a stranger To adoration,… and obsequious vows From voluntary realms.
1768. H. Walpole, Hist. Doubts, Pref. p. xv. When a successful king is chief justice, historians become a voluntary jury.
absol. 1611. Bible, Ps. xlvii. 9, marg. The voluntarie of the people are gathered vnto the people of the God of Abraham.
transf. 1621. G. Sandys, Ovid’s Met., I. (1626), 11. Other Creatures tooke their numerous birth And figures, from the voluntary Earth.
1652. Crashaw, Carmen Deo Nostro, Mary Magdalene, xxi. That King … That thus can boast to be Waited on by a wandring mine, A voluntary mint, that strowes Warm sylver showres where’re he goes!
9. Of institutions: Maintained or supported solely or largely by the freewill offerings or contributions of members or subscribers, and free from State interference or control.
1745. Butler, Serm., Wks. 1874, II. 277. The education of poor children was all along taken care of by voluntary charities.
1837. McCulloch, Acc. Brit. Empire, II. 491. Private or Voluntary Schools.
1867. Chambers’s Encycl., IX. 647/1. The United Presbyterian Church is … not only in practice, but also in theory, a voluntary church. Ibid. (1868), X. 651/1. They held that the same objections did not apply to voluntary organisations [for educational purposes].
b. Of or pertaining to, concerned or connected with, voluntaryism in respect of the Church or educational institutions.
1834. Graham, in C. S. Parker, Life & Lett. (1907), I. 198. I cannot favour in the least ‘the Voluntary Principle.’
1867. Chambers’s Encycl., IX. 646/1. A great controversy … known as the Voluntary Controversy (1829–1834). Ibid. (1868), X. 23/2. An important article in the Voluntary creed.
1891. E. Kinglake, Australian at Home, 51. The voluntary system … is almost universal in Australia. The clergyman is the servant of his congregation, and must please them or go.
c. Of persons: Advocating or supporting the voluntary principle as opposed to State establishment and control.
1835. C. J. Brown, Ch. Establishm., iv. 15. Voluntary Churchmen, out of an Establishment, talk of the independence of the Church—our forefathers, within one, bled and died for it.
1868. Chambers’s Encycl., X. 24/1. Those known as Voluntary educationists reject the idea of any national system.
10. Of muscles, etc.: Acting or moving in response to the volition; directing or controlling voluntary movements.
1788. Encycl. Brit. (ed. 3), I. 702/1. The motions…, in a natural and healthy state, are subject to the will, and for this reason they are called voluntary muscles.
1843. Graves, Syst. Clin. Med., xv. 186. A debility of the voluntary muscles.
1864. Webster, Voluntary nerve, nerve distributed to voluntary muscle.
1884. Pop. Sci. Monthly, June, 174. We see here that atrophy begins in the most voluntary limb, the arm.
b. Physiol. (See quot.)
1860. Mayne, Expos. Lex., 1337/1. Voluntary Motor Power,… the power exercised by the brain and nerves in volition, in distinction from the excito-motor power, or that which is peculiar to the spinal marrow and its nerves.
III. † 11. Growing wild or naturally; of spontaneous growth. Obs. rare.
1620. Venner, Via Recta, vii. 130. The wilde or voluntary Strawberries, that I may so terme them.
1633. Bp. Hall, Hard Texts, N. T., 4. Feeding on such homely and voluntary diet as that wild place would afford.
1718. Pope, Iliad, XIV. 396. Glad earth perceives, and from her bosom pours Unbidden herbs and voluntary flowers.
B. adv. = VOLUNTARILY adv.
In early use perh. partly after L. voluntāriē.
1480. Cov. Leet Bk., 435. All þe forseid persones … cam voluntarye, & seid openly ther to þe seid Maire, þat [etc.].
1562. Child-Marriages, 75. The said Henrie did neuer lye with the said Mavde, nor did cohabete voluntarie together.
c. 1595. Capt. Wyatt, Dudley’s Voy. (Hakl. Soc.), 34. One of them voluntarie profered to goe with him into Englande.
1609. Holland, Amm. Marcell., d 4 b. He did this voluntarie, according to the example of the ancient Decii.
1632. J. Hayward, trans. Biondi’s Eromena, To Rdr. In excuse of my not voluntary undergoing … the burthen of this Translation.
1671. Milton, P. R., II. 394. If of that pow’r I bring thee voluntary What I might have bestow’d on whom I pleas’d.
1710. Prideaux, Orig. Tithes, iii. 145. All should voluntary pay them in their Offerings at the Church.
1769. Sir J. Reynolds, Disc., ii. (1876), 322. To go voluntary to a tribunal where he knows he must be humbled.
C. sb. I. † 1. Free will or choice; = VOLUNTY. In the phrases of, out of, upon or at (a person’s) own voluntary, at voluntary.
(a) 1585. T. Washington, trans. Nicholay’s Voy., I. xix. 23 b. Of theyr owne voluntarie [they] came to surrender themselues. Ibid., I. xx. 25. The offer [was] made vppon his owne voluntary.
1590. Greene, Mourn. Garm., Wks. (Grosart), IX. 168. If you were to chuse husbands at your owne voluntary.
1606. G. W[oodcocke], Hist. Ivstine, II. 16. After this the Spartans,… out of their own voluntary, inuaded the borders of their Empire.
a. 1617. Bayne, On Eph. (1643), 317. How canst thou,… out of thy voluntary, converse with them who are not sanctified?
1633. J. Done, trans. Aristeas’ Hist. Septuagint, 59. Uppon his owne voluntary, he came often to visite the workes.
(b) 1590. Greene, Neuer too late, Wks. (Grosart), VIII. 71. Womens flatteries [were] too forceable to resist at voluntarie. Ibid. (1591), Conny Catch., II. 11. He began to … rap out gogs Nownes, and pronounes, while at voluntarie he had sworne through the eight parts of speach in the Accidence.
2. † a. Music added at the will of the performer to a piece played or sung. Obs.
1565. Jewel, Reply Harding (1611), 113. This is the plaine song, and may well stand for the ground: the rest is altogether descant and vaine voluntary, and the most part out of tune.
1597. Morley, Introd. Mus., 126. To make two parts vpon a plainesong is more hard then to make three parts into voluntary. Ibid. Rules which may serue him both for descant and voluntary.
b. A musical piece or movement played or sung spontaneously or of one’s free choice, esp. by way of prelude to a more elaborate piece, song, etc.
1598. Florio, Preludio, a proheme in musicke, a voluntary before the song.
1628. Ford, Lover’s Mel., I. i. Upon his instrument he plays so swiftly, So many voluntaries, and so quick, That [etc.].
1662. Playford, Skill Mus., I. 60. He with his Harp … ending his excellent Voluntary with some choice Fancy upon this Phrygian Mood.
1688. R. Holme, Armoury, III. xix. (Roxb.), 154/2. The seuerall Beates or points of warre are these … 4. A Voluntary before the March.
1754. R. Newton, Char. Theophrastus, 7. Something in the nature of a flourish, or of a voluntary before the tune.
a. 1785. T. Potter, Moralist, II. 134. He took up his flute, and touched a few notes of the voluntary he had heard the night before.
1848. Thackeray, Van. Fair, xlviii. Sitting down to the piano, she rattled away a triumphant voluntary on the keys.
fig. and transf. 1603. Hynd, Mirrour Worldly Fame, v. Dancing is the voluntary, which is played before a passage is made to unlawful desires.
1629. Gaule, Holy Madn., 155. Like a fantasticke Musician, he chiefly pleases himselfe; while he leaues the Grounds, to run upon the Voluntaries.
1686. Goad, Celest. Bodies, II. viii. 255. The Lark and the Thrush sung their Voluntaries.
1712. Steele, Spect., No. 504, ¶ 1. These can … say you are dull to-day, and laugh a Voluntary to put you in humour.
1795. Burke, Lett. to W. Elliot, Wks. 1842, II. 240. I have been told of the voluntary, which, for the entertainment of the house of lords, has been lately played by his Grace.
1814. Scott, Wav., xliii. He … ran off in a wild voluntary of fanciful mirth.
a. 1881. Rossetti, House of Life, ix. This harp still makes my name its voluntary.
c. esp. A piece or solo, usu. consisting of two or more movements, played upon the organ before, during or after any office of the Church; also, the music for this.
In-, Out-voluntary, those respectively played at the beginning and close of a religious service.
1712. Steele, Spect., No. 503, ¶ 2. Now the Organ was to play a Voluntary, and she … kept time … with some Motion of her Head.
1731. in Abridgm. Specif. Patents, Music (1871), 2. All psalm tunes, fuges, volunteries, and anthems that are usually sung in churches or chappells.
1779. Phil. Trans., LXIX. 193. Several voluntaries which he heard … the organist play at the Cathedral.
1801. Busby, Dict. Mus., s.v., The voluntary was originally so called, because its performance, or non-performance, was at the option of the organist.
1837. Hood, Ode R. Wilson, 398. Let the solemn, swelling, organ greet, With Voluntaries meet, The willing advent of the rich and poor.
1870. R. Anderson, Missions Amer. Board, II. xxxviii. 344. A voluntary skillfully played … on the powerful organ belonging to the church.
fig. 1863. Cowden Clarke, Shaks. Char., xvii. 448. This scene … will form a choice voluntary as conclusion to our homily.
† 3. A voluntary oath. Obs.–1
1593. Bilson, Govt. Christ’s Ch., xiii. 270. In matters of religion that touch the peace & safetie of the whole Church of Christ, do you looke your voluntarie should bee receiued without all authoritie or testimonie to warrant it.
† 4. An occurrence or event due to some person’s voluntary action. Obs. rare.
1652. Gaule, Magastrom., 83. Casualties and voluntaries, whose events are not so much as probable, as not having any such causes as aforesaid.
5. An extempore, optional or voluntary piece of writing or composition.
1690. Temple, Ess., Poetry, Wks. 1720, I. 245. The Priapeia … were little Voluntaries or Extemporaries, written upon the ridiculous Wooden Statues of Priapus.
1801. W. Taylor, in Robberds, Mem. (1843), I. 387. If I get Phillips to receive his voluntaries in the Monthly Magazine, he … will take the less pains.
1860. Mansfield, School-life at Winchester (1870), 107. Præfects and Senior part also were encouraged to write … a copy of verses on any subject selected by themselves, which was called a ‘Voluntary.’
1876. Lowell, Among my Books, Ser. II. 206. At school he wrote some task-verses … and also some voluntaries of his own.
6. A voluntary contribution.
1837–8. J. Keegan, Leg. & Poems (1907), 80. [The heap of stones] at last assumed a size sufficiently large to attract the attention of every person who went the way, who, in their turn, added their ‘voluntary’ to the pile.
7. A parting of a rider from his horse without sufficient cause; an unwarranted fall. Freq. to cut a voluntary.
1863. G. A. Lawrence, Border & Bastille, ii. 33. A conscript, who could keep his saddle, through an entire day, without ‘taking a voluntary,’ was considered … a credit to the regiment.
1883. Mrs. Kennard, Right Sort, xxi. They will say I cut a voluntary…. The stirrup-leather alone was to blame.
1890. Field, 8 Feb., 177. The number of ‘voluntaries’ which are ever taking place in the hunting field.
8. A voluntary examination.
1894. J. Payn, Gleams of Memory, 75. As an initial step to my becoming a divine, it was … necessary to pass ‘the Voluntary’—a theological examination in my case very inappropriately named.
II. † 9. One voluntarily, and usually without pay, serving as a soldier in a campaign, battle, etc.; = VOLUNTEER sb. 1. Obs.
In very frequent use from 1600 to 1645.
1595. Shaks., John, II. i. 67. Rash, inconsiderate, fiery voluntaries,… Haue sold their fortunes at their natiue homes,… To make a hazard of new fortunes heere.
1601. Mountjoy, in Moryson, Itin., II. (1617), 138. Diuers worthy men … haue followed the wars here as voluntaries to their very great expence.
1622. F. Markham, Bk. War, I. vii. 25. Those Souldiers, which we call by the name of Voluntaries, being a ranke of men which voluntarily, and of their owne meere motion without any constraint at all, doe betake themselues into the Warres.
1636. Winthrop, New Eng. (1825), I. 195. The soldiers who went were all voluntaries, and had only their victuals provided, but demanded no pay.
1670. Milton, Hist. Eng., V. 219. Turkitel the Dane … got leave of the King, with as many voluntaries as would follow him, to pass into France.
fig. 1612. T. Taylor, Comm. Titus ii. 6. Let them now serue as voluntaries vnder the Captaine Iesus Christ.
transf. 1627. J. Taylor (Water P.), Navy Land Ships, A ijb. There were 7. other needlesse Ships which were in the nature of voluntaries, or hangers on vpon the Nauy.
10. One who undertakes or engages in any kind of service, enterprise, etc., of his own choice or free-will; = VOLUNTEER sb. 3.
1609. Bible (Douay), 1 Macc. ii. 42. Then there was gathered to them the synagoge of the Assideans…, everie voluntarie in the law.
1612. H. Ainsworth, Annot. Ps. cx. 3. Thy people shall be voluntaries in the day of thy power.
1628. Wither, Brit. Rememb., III. 1507. That none durst become a voluntary, In such a Fire, for conscience sake, to tarie.
a. 1641. Bp. Mountagu, Acts & Mon. (1642), 146. Unto Esdras was granted … licence to goe up unto Jerusalem, to carry with him all such voluntaries as would goe.
† 11. One who is willing or ready to give way or withdraw. Obs.–1
1620. [G. Brydges], Horæ Subs., 25. If … they … could haue beene content to withdraw … it would haue expressed an excellent temper, and moderation. But few such voluntaries bee found.
12. One who holds or advocates that the Church (or educational institutions) should be maintained by voluntary contributions and be independent of State connection or support. Cf. VOLUNTARYIST.
1834. Tait’s Mag., I. 418/1. The Governor was a Voluntary; but Lord Goderich granted [the congregation] the L. 100 from the colonial revenue.
1843. E. Miall, in Nonconf., III. 241. Where the truth has got hold of a man it makes him a real voluntary.
1868. Chambers’s Encycl., X. 651/1. Obstacles to the establishment of a national system [of education] more formidable than the opposition of the Voluntaries.
