Word origins - 2ed. J. Ayto. 2005.
volunteer — Ⅰ. volunteer UK US /ˌvɒlənˈtɪər/ noun [C] ► a person who does a job or some work without being paid or forced to do it: »They employ 1,000 people and 23,000 volunteers. »I will ask for volunteers to help with the search. Ⅱ. volunteer UK US… … Financial and business terms
Volunteer — Vol un*teer , a. Of or pertaining to a volunteer or volunteers; consisting of volunteers; voluntary; as, volunteer companies; volunteer advice. [1913 Webster] … The Collaborative International Dictionary of English
volunteer — [väl΄ən tir′] n. [earlier voluntier < obs. Fr voluntaire < L (miles)voluntarius,VOLUNTARY (soldier)] 1. a person who chooses freely to do or offer to do something 2. a person who chooses freely to enter naval or military service, without… … English World dictionary
Volunteer — Vol un*teer , v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Volunteered}; p. pr. & vb. n. {Volunteering}.] To offer or bestow voluntarily, or without solicitation or compulsion; as, to volunteer one s services. [1913 Webster] … The Collaborative International Dictionary of English
volunteer — vol·un·teer /ˌvä lən tir/ n 1: one that voluntarily undertakes something; esp: one who without request, obligation, or an interest pays the debt of another and is denied reimbursement from subrogation 2: one who receives property without giving… … Law dictionary
volunteer — (n.) c.1600, one who offers himself for military service, from M.Fr. voluntaire, noun use of adj. meaning voluntary, from L. voluntarius voluntary, of one s free will (see VOLUNTARY (Cf. voluntary)). Non military sense is first recorded 1630s.… … Etymology dictionary
Volunteer — Vol un*teer , v. i. To enter into, or offer for, any service of one s own free will, without solicitation or compulsion; as, he volunteered in that undertaking. [1913 Webster] … The Collaborative International Dictionary of English
Volunteer — Vol un*teer , n. [F. volontaire. See {Voluntary}, a.] [1913 Webster] 1. One who enters into, or offers for, any service of his own free will. [1913 Webster] 2. (Mil.) One who enters into service voluntarily, but who, when in service, is subject… … The Collaborative International Dictionary of English
volunteer — [v] offer to do something advance, bring forward, chip in*, come forward, do on one’s own volition*, enlist, go in*, let oneself in for*, offer services, present, proffer, propose, put at one’s disposal*, put forward, sign up, speak up, stand up … New thesaurus
volunteer — ► NOUN 1) a person who freely offers to do something. 2) a person who works for an organization without being paid. 3) a person who freely enrols for military service rather than being conscripted. ► VERB 1) freely offer to do something. 2) say… … English terms dictionary
volunteer — I UK [ˌvɒlənˈtɪə(r)] / US [ˌvɑlənˈtɪr] noun [countable] Word forms volunteer : singular volunteer plural volunteers ** 1) someone who is not paid for the work that they do The organization is appealing for volunteers. a volunteer worker a small… … English dictionary
