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