Definify.com

Webster 1913 Edition

Spontaneous

Spon-ta′ne-ous

(spŏn-tā′nē̍-ŭs)
,
Adj.
[L.
spontaneus
, fr.
sponte
of free will, voluntarily.]
1.
Proceeding from natural feeling, temperament, or disposition, or from a native internal proneness, readiness, or tendency, without constraint;
as, a
spontaneous
gift or proposition
.
2.
Proceeding from, or acting by, internal impulse, energy, or natural law, without external force;
as,
spontaneous
motion;
spontaneous
growth.
3.
Produced without being planted, or without human labor;
as, a
spontaneous
growth of wood
.
Spontaneous combustion
,
combustion produced in a substance 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
.
(Biol.)
See under
Generation
.
Syn. – 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 reason 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 . . . exercise which is but voluntary labor.”
J. Seed.

Spontaneous
joys, where nature has its play,
The soul adopts, and owns their firstborn away.
Goldsmith.
–
Spon-ta′ne-ous-ly
,
adv.
–
Spon-ta′ne-ous-ness
,
Noun.

Webster 1828 Edition

Spontaneous

SPONTANEOUS

,
Adj.
[L., of free will.]
1.
Voluntary; acting by its own impulse or will without the incitement of any thing external; acting of its own accord; as spontaneous motion.
2.
Produced without being planted, or without human labor; as a spontaneous growth of wood.
Spontaneous combustion, a taking fire of itself. Thus oiled canvas, oiled wool, and many other combustible substances, when suffered to remain for some time in a confined state, suddenly take fire, or undergo spontaneous combustion.

Definition 2024

spontaneous

spontaneous

English

Adjective

spontaneous ‎(comparative more spontaneous, superlative most spontaneous)

  1. Self-generated; happening without any apparent external cause.
    He made a spontaneous offer of help.
  2. Done by one's own free choice, or without planning.
  3. proceeding from natural feeling or native tendency without external or conscious constraint
  4. arising from a momentary impulse
  5. controlled and directed internally; self-active; spontaneous movement characteristic of living things
  6. produced without being planted or without human labor; indigenous
    a spontaneous growth of wood
  7. Random.
  8. Sudden, without warning.

Synonyms

Derived terms

Related terms

Translations

Etymology

Late Latin spontāneus, from Latin sponte (suā) ‎(“of one's free will, voluntarily”).

Pronunciation

Similar Results