Volunteer

• POS: Noun, Verb (usu participle), Verb (intransitive), Verb (transitive)
• HYPHEN: vol=un=teer

CIDE DICTIONARY

Volunteer, n. [F. volontaire. See Voluntary, a.].

•  One who enters into, or offers for, any service of his own free will.  [1913 Webster]
•  One who enters into service voluntarily, but who, when in service, is subject to discipline and regulations like other soldiers; -- opposed to conscript; specifically, a voluntary member of the organized militia of a country as distinguished from the standing army.  [1913 Webster]
•  A grantee in a voluntary conveyance; one to whom a conveyance is made without valuable consideration; a party, other than a wife or child of the grantor, to whom, or for whose benefit, a voluntary conveyance is made.  Burrill.  [1913 Webster]

Volunteer, a. 

 Of or pertaining to a volunteer or volunteers; consisting of volunteers; voluntary; as, volunteer companies; volunteer advice.  [1913 Webster]

Volunteer, v. t. 

 To offer or bestow voluntarily, or without solicitation or compulsion; as, to volunteer one's services.  [1913 Webster]

Volunteer, 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]

OXFORD DICTIONARY

Volunteer, n. & v.
--n.
1 a person who voluntarily undertakes a task or enters military or other service, esp. Mil. hist. a member of any of the corps of voluntary soldiers formerly organized in the UK and provided with instructors, arms, etc., by the State.
2 (usu. attrib.) a self-sown plant.
--v.
1 tr. (often foll. by to + infin.) undertake or offer (one's services, a remark or explanation, etc.) voluntarily.
2 intr. (often foll. by for) make a voluntary offer of one's services; be a volunteer.

Etymology

F volontaire (as VOLUNTARY), assim. to -EER

THESAURUS

Volunteer

arbitrary, autonomous, autonomousness, autonomy, come forward, discretional, discretionary, do independently, do voluntarily, elective, free, free will, gratuitous, gratuitousness, independence, independent, need no prodding, nonmandatory, offered, optional, proffered, self-acting, self-action, self-active, self-activity, self-determination, self-determined, self-determining, spontaneity, spontaneous, spontaneousness, step forward, unasked, unbesought, unbidden, uncalled-for, uncoerced, uncompelled, unforced, unforcedness, uninfluenced, uninvited, unpressured, unprompted, unrequested, unrequired, unsolicited, unsought, voluntariness, voluntarism, voluntary, voluntaryism, volunteer militia, volunteer navy, volunteering, willful

ROGET THESAURUS

Volunteer

Will

VB will, list, see fit, think fit, determine, enjoin, settle, volunteer, have a will of one's own, do what one chooses, have it all, one's own way, have one's will, have one's own way, use one's discretion, exercise one's discretion, take upon oneself, take one's own course, take the law into one's own hands, do of one's own accord, do upon one's own authority, originate.

Willingness

N willingness, voluntariness, willing mind, heart, disposition, inclination, leaning, animus, frame of mind, humor, mood, vein, bent, penchant, aptitude, docility, docibleness, persuasibleness, persuasibility, pliability, geniality, cordiality, goodwill, alacrity, readiness, earnestness, forwardness, eagerness, asset, compliance, pleasure, gratuitous service, labor of love, volunteer, volunteering, willing, minded, fain, disposed, inclined, favorable, favorably- minded, favorably inclined, favorably disposed, nothing loth, in the vein, in the mood, in the humor, in the mind, ready, forward, earnest, eager, bent upon, predisposed, propense, docile, persuadable, persuasible, suasible, easily persuaded, facile, easy-going, tractable, genial, gracious, cordial, cheering, hearty, content, voluntary, gratuitous, spontaneous, unasked &c (ask), unforced, willingly, fain, freely, as lief, heart and soul, with pleasure, with all one's heart, with open arms, with good will, with right will, de bonne volonte, ex animo, con amore, heart in hand, nothing loth, without reluctance, of one's own accord, graciously, with a good grace, a la bonne heure, by all means, by all manner of means, to one's heart's content, yes.

VB be willing, incline, lean to, mind, propend, had as lief, lend a willing ear, give a willing ear, turn a willing ear, have a half a mind to, have a great mind to, hold to, cling to, desire, see fit, think good, think proper, acquiesce, comply with, swallow the bait, nibble at the bait, gorge the hook, have no scruple of, make no scruple of, make no bones of, jump at, catch at, meet halfway, volunteer.

Undertaking

VB undertake, engage in, embark in, launch into, plunge into, volunteer, apprentice oneself to, engage, contract, take upon oneself, take upon one's shoulders, devote oneself to, take up, take in hand, tackle, set about, go about, set to, fall to, set to work, launch forth, set up shop, put in hand, put in execution, set forward, break the neck of a business, be in, for, put one's hand to, put one's foot in, betake oneself to, turn one's hand to, go to do, begin one's, broach one's, institute one's, put one's hand to the plow, lay one's hand to the plow, put one's shoulder to the wheel, have in hand, have many irons in the fire.

Offer

VB offer, proffer, present, tender, bid, propose, move, make a motion, make advances, start, invite, hold out, place in one's way, put forward, hawk about, offer for sale, press, lay at one's feet, offer oneself, present oneself, volunteer, come forward, be a candidate, stand for, bid for, seek, be at one's service, go a begging, bribe.