Volunteer
/ˌvɑːlənˈtɪr/noun
A person who freely offers to do something without being forced or paid.
Did you know?Volunteer comes through French from Latin voluntarius, built on voluntas, “will, wish,” so the word is literally about acting from inner desire rather than obligation.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*wel-
“to wish, will”
Latin
Latin
volēre
“to wish, want”
Latin
Latin
voluntārius
“done of one’s own will; voluntary”
Old French
Old French
voluntaire
“willing; voluntary”
Early Modern English
English
voluntier
“a person who offers service of their own free will”
Modern English
English
volunteer
“a person who freely offers to do something without being forced or paid”
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