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.
Usage: {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},
n.