1. Proceding from
natural feeling, temperament, or disposition, or from a
native inside proneness, readiness, or tendency,
without constraint; as, a
spontaneous present or proportion.
2. Proceeding from, or acting by,
inside impulse, energy, or
natural law,
without outside force; as,
spontaneous motion;
spontaneous growth.
3. Produced
without being planted, or
without human labour; as, a
spontaneous growth of tree. Spontaneous combustion,
combustion produced in a stuff by the
evolution of
heat through the
chemical action of its
own elements; as, the
spontaneous combustion of
waste matter saturated with oil. Spontaneous generation.
See Generation.
Synonym: Voluntary, uncompelled, willing.
Spontaneous, Voluntary. What is voluntary is the result of a volition, or act of choice; it therefore implies some degree of consideration, and may be the result of mere cause without excited feeling. What is spontaneous springs wholly from feeling, or a sudden impulse which admits of no reflection; as, a spontaneous burst of applause. Hence, the term is also applied to things inanimate when they are produced without the determinate purpose or care of man. "Abstinence which is but voluntary fasting, and . . . Exercice which is but voluntary labour." "Spontaneous joys, where character has its play, The soul adopts, and owns their firstborn away." (Goldsmith) Sponta"neously, Sponta"neousness.
Origin: L. Spontaneus, fr. Sponte of free will, voluntarily.
Source: Websters Vocabulary