voluntarily, adv.
(ˈvɒləntərɪlɪ)
Forms: 4–5 uoluntariely, 5– voluntarily, 6 -ilye, -ile, 6–7 -ilie; 6 -elie, -ely; 6 -yly(e, 6–7 -ylie.
[f. voluntary a. + -ly2.]
1. Of one's own free will or accord; without compulsion, constraint, or undue influence by others; freely, willingly.
In very frequent use from c 1530.
| c 1374 Chaucer Boeth. iii. pr. xii. (1868) 103 Þer may no man douten, þat þei ne ben gouerned uoluntariely. 1432–50 tr. Higden (Rolls) III. 163 Wherefore sche thouȝhte..men wolde haue seide that sche consente to hym voluntarily. 1440 Dk. Gloucester Manifesto in Rymer Fœdera (1710) X. 766/2 To see the Worship, that God soe long hath eured hym with..shuld so voluntarily be put in likelyhed of total Perdition. a 1513 Fabyan Chron. vii. (1811) 299 Kyng Richarde..voluntaryly tooke vppon hym, and promysed to warre vpon Crystis enemyes. 1560 J. Daus tr. Sleidane's Comm. 196 b, Duke Maurice of Saxonye served in thys warre voluntarily. 1583 Stubbes Anat. Abus. ii. (1882) 84 If the other churches..will voluntarily impart any thing to the supplie of his necessities. c 1610 Women Saints (1886) 37 To these mariages, albeit with a king, she was rather haled perforce than voluntarilie assenting. 1663 Bp. Patrick Parab. Pilgr. xiii. (1687) 87 At last he voluntarily, and without any compulsion but that of his Love, died upon a Cross. 1711 Steele Spect. No. 149 ¶7 The happy Marriage is, where two Persons meet and voluntarily make Choice of each other. 1754 Edwards Freed. Will ii. ix. 76 When Men act voluntarily, and do what they please, then they do what appears most agreable to them. 1808 Pike Sources Mississ. iii. 215, I know you do not go voluntarily, but I will give you a certificate..of my having obliged you to march. 1858 Masson Milton I. 605 Milton..either voluntarily offered a contribution, or was invited to send one. 1875 Jowett Plato (ed. 2) I. 160 Him who does no evil, voluntarily I praise and love. |
b. Said of animals.
| 1607 Topsell Four-f. Beasts 161 Euery night..an assembly of dogs..meete voluntarily at an appointed houre, for the custody of the Temple. Ibid. 669 They vse to harden their ribs by rubbing them voluntarily vppon Trees. 1831 Youatt Horse iv. 55 It..does sometimes happen, that..the horse..voluntarily presses on, until..he falls and dies. |
2. Without other determining force than natural character or tendency; naturally, spontaneously.
| 1562 W. Bullein Bulwarke, Sicke Men (1579) 21 The first of them is naturall, as when men do voluntarily sweat, without force of medicine. 1575 Turberv. Faulconrie 318 They plume themselues oftentimes, yea and the pendant feathers of their thighes..fal off voluntarily. 1613 Purchas Pilgrimage iv. i. 291 The Earth voluntarily and liberally yeeldeth her store. 1700 C. Nesse Antid. Armin. (1827) 68 Man being left to the mutability of his own will..would voluntarily incline to evil. |
† 3. At will, at pleasure; extempore. Obs.—1
| 1676 T. Mace Mus. Mon. Pref., The Hints and Directions which I have given, as towards the Procuring of Invention, or Playing Voluntarily. |