A Dictionary of the Older Scottish Tongue (up to 1700)
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First published 2002 (DOST Vol. XI).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
Voluntar, -arie, adj. Also: -er, -ier, -eer, -aire, woluntar, volluntar, volintar, volenter, voluntare, -ary, volonterie. [ME and e.m.E. voluntary (1387-8), voluntarie (c1449), voluntaire (1615), OF voluntaire, L. voluntārius.]
1. Of an action, activity or state: Done by consent or choice, willingly, without compulsion. b. Of a person's will, agreement or consent: Free, consenting. c. Applied to an action with legal implications: Voluntarily undertaken. Also of the rights attendant on such an action.(a) c1490 Irland Asl. MS 16/30.
Pennance … is remeid voluntar aganis the offencis maid to God 1490 Irland Mir. III 26/4.
Thar is ane vthir vnioun … that the saule has with the body that is voluntar and be the proper consent of the saule 1581 Hamilton Cath. Tr. in Cath. Tr. (STS) 80/19.
James Beton, Archebischop of Glasgo, your hienes … embassadeur touart the … king of France qua … hes … sufferit voluntar baneisment out of his natiue cuntrie thir monie yeris bypast 1603 Moysie 26.
The lord Obynnie wes maid erle of Lennox be the voluntar dimissioun of the kingis uncle 1661 Reg. Privy C. 3 Ser. I 73.
If they shall be found guilty upon voluntar confessiones [etc.] 1664 W. Guthrey Serm. 42.
Their defection was … voluntar and by choice 1678 Mackenzie Laws & C. i i 4 (1678) 8.
Seeing man can only offend in what is voluntar to him, it must follow, that the will is the only fountain of wickedness(b) 1562-3 Winȝet I 51/10.
For that few Catholik kingis or quenes, … hes this day voluntare and dew obedience, … of thair subiects 1600 Colville Palinode 5.
When as they shal see your repentance voluntare, and not constrained(c) c1590 Fowler II 31/8.
For obedience proceadeth of a voluntier affectioun trusting to please Him(d) 1671 McWard True Nonconf. 27.
His unimitable example in this his free and voluntaire suffering(e) 1592 Warrender P. (SHS) II 180.
Gif your hienes sall think this my exyl thocht volonterie yit dishonorable [etc.]b. 1610 Crim. Trials III 105.
To enter in the wickit fellowschip of roberie, ȝea all of ȝour awin voluntar accord 1615 Crim. Trials III 356.
His volunter offer … quhairby he, of his awin consent, was content to be hangit 1623 Falkirk Par. Rec. I 40.
He sall exact no farther heirefter of anie personne … except they give it of thair awn voluntar will 1629 Justiciary Cases I 142.
His awin frie and volunter consentc. 1609 Skene Reg. Maj. i 19b.
Arbitrie … hes ane great similitude with judgement (and ordinar processes be reason the ane is voluntare judgement and the other is necessare 1683 Decis. Lords F. 38.
A charge against a superior upon a comprising … was not equivalent to an infeftment in the competition with a voluntar right, such as this is, especially the disposition, which is the ground of the voluntar right, being before the denunciation of the apprising and the nature of voluntar rights being such as cannot be compleated by diligence without a superiors consent 1684 Decis. Lords F. 60.
That the granter could not prejudge his successors by taxing the waird … That the bishops being administrators of the see, could do no voluntar act to the prejudice of their successors; and that taxing was a greater prejudice [etc.] 1685 Decis. Lords F. 67.
The fie was qualified with the … provision that failȝieing of heirs … the sum should return to his mother which provision he could not evacuat by the foresaid mortification which was a voluntar deed
2. Of a monetary contribution or levy: Freely offered, not compulsory.(a) 1604 Conv. Burghs II 191.
That the samyn be assessit be the burrowis providing it bring na burding vpoun the burrowis except it be woluntar 1607 Glasgow Trades House 6.
That thair be ane voluntare contributioun socht and requirit fra the craftis 1612 Conv. Burghs II 351.
Everie burgh to give thair voluntar help … as they sall be requyrit 1616 Haddington B. Rec. (Robb) 22 July.
To the Universitie of Sanctandrie xx punds mony for … the voluntar contributioun votit to thame … for replenishing thair librarie 1619 Aberd. B. Rec. II 361.
Thomas Meingȝeis dissassentit that any taxatioun be imposit … bot that a voluntar contributioun be crawit 1621 Perth Kirk S. 10 Dec.
Johne Skynner … rebuikit for his refusall to gif to the voluntare contributioun to the reparatioun of the stipill 1637 Aberd. B. Rec. III 120.
Ingadderares of this charitable and voluntar contribution 1665 Conv. Burghs III 579.
Volintar 1700 Bk. Pasquils 359.
Volluntar(b) 1670 Edinb. B. Rec. X 84.
Volunteer(c) c1560 Thirds of Benefices 115.
Five bollis beir … quhilk … wes nevir gevin bot in almouse voluntarie c1560 Thirds of Benefices 132.
Quhilk he alleges wes gevin be him allanerlie of voluntarie almous induring his will allanerlie 1588 Reg. Privy C. IV 337.
Collectour of … the voluntarie taxatioun 1615 S. Leith Rec. 13/1.
Voluntary
3. Of soldiers: Serving as a volunteer. Cf. Voluntar n. 1 b.(a) 1638 Baillie I 214.
Sojours of fortune, and of sojours voluntars(b) 1627 Bk. Carlaverock II 91.
Volenter soldieris(c) 1632 Lithgow Trav. viii 350.
A galley captaine, a voluntary souldier
4. Of wrongdoing: Done willingly; deliberate.c1490 Irland Asl. MS 23/12.
And becaus the syn was plesand & voluntare 1585 Acts III 386/1.
In the foirsaid … abolitioun is not … comprehendit the horrible and tressonable murther of our souerane lordis dearest fathir … nor onie vtheris voluntar murtheris or slauchteris 1598–9 Elgin Rec. II 70.
Sic personis … as hes haid voluntar conferrens with the excommunicat
