Voluntary
/ˈvɒl.ən.tər.i/noun
Done, given, or acting by free choice rather than force or obligation.
Did you know?In Latin, *voluntarius* meant “of one’s own will,” and it comes from *velle* (“to wish, will”), a root that also gave English words tied to willpower and desire.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*wel-
“to will, wish, choose”
Latin
Latin
velle
“to wish, to will”
Latin
Latin
voluntas
“will, wish, inclination”
Late Latin
Latin
voluntarius
“of one’s own will, voluntary”
Old French
Old French
voluntaire
“willing, voluntary”
Middle English
English
voluntarie
“done of free will”
Modern English
English
voluntary
“done, given, or acting by free choice”
Explore more surprising origins