Volitantia 
the so-enlled flying-lemurs and the l>ats thus 
an artificial group, now abolished. 
volitation (vol-i-ta'shou), 11. [< L. volitarc, pp. 
riililitttiH, fly to and fro: see rolitant.] The act 
of flying ; the power of flight, or its habitual 
exercise; flight; volation. 
volitational (vol-i-ta'shon-al), a. [< volitation 
+ -fil.] Of or pertaining to volitation or flight. 
Volitatorest (voFi-ta-to'rez), n.pl. [NL., < L. 
ntlitiirr, fly: see rolitant.] In ornith., in Mac- 
gillivray's system, an order of birds, the skim- 
mers, composed of such species as swallows, 
bee-eaters, and goatsuckers : an artificial group. 
VOlitatory (vol'i-ta-to-ri), a. [< L. volitarc, pp. 
rolitatiiK, fly, + -ory.~] Same as volitorial. 
volitient (vo-lish'eut), a. [Irreg. < voliti(on) + 
-ent.] Having freedom of will ; exercising the 
will; willing. [Rare.] 
I [Lucifer] chose this ruin ; I elected it 
Of my will, not of service. What I do 
I do volitient, not obedient. 
Mrs. Browning, Drama of Exile. 
volition (vo-lish'on), n. [< F. volition = Sp. 
volition = Pg. voliySo = It. volizione, < ML. vo- 
litio(n-), will, volition, < L. vclle, ind. pres. volo, 
will: see Witt 1 .] 1. The act of willing; the ex- 
ercise of the will. Volition does not consist in form- 
ing a choice or preference, but in an act of the soul in 
which the agent is generally held to have a peculiar sense 
of reaction. 
The actual exercise of that power [the will], by directing 
any particular action or its forbearance, is ... volition. 
Locke, Human Understanding, II. xxi. 5, 
Will is indeed an ambiguous word, being sometimes put 
for the faculty of willing, sometimes for the act of that fac- 
ulty, besides other meanings. But volition always signi- 
fies the act of willing, and nothing else. Willingness, I 
think, is opposed to unwillingness or aversion. A man is 
willing to do what he has no aversion to do, or what he 
has some desire to do, though perhaps he has not the op- 
portunity ; and I think this is never called volition. 
Reid, Letter to Dr. J. Gregory (Works, ed. Hamilton, p. 79). 
An artist's brain receives and stores images often with- 
out distinct volition. T. Winthrop, Cecil Dreeme, xvii. 
When a man's arm is raised in sequence to that state of 
consciousness we call a volition, the volition is not the im- 
mediate cause of the elevation of the arm. 
Huxley, in Nineteenth Century, XXI. 495. 
2. The power of willing ; will. 
In that young bosom are often stirring passions as strong 
as our own, ... a volition not less supreme. D'Israeli. 
The play of the features, the vocal exclamations, the 
gesticulations of the arms, Ac., come under the domain of 
our volition. A. Bain, Emotions and Will, p. 302. 
volitional (vo-lish'on-al), a. [< volition + -al.] 
Of or pertaining to volition. 
The volitional impulse. Bacon. 
What is termed self-control, prudential restraint, moral 
strength, consists in the intellectual permanency of the 
volitional element of our feelings. 
A. Bain, Emotions and Will, p. 21. 
There is no more miserable human being than one in 
whom nothing is habitual but indecision, and for whom 
the lighting of every cigar, the drinking of every cup, the 
time of rising and going to bed every day, and the begin- 
ning of every bit of work, are subjects of express volitional 
deliberation. W. James, Prin. of Psychol., I. 122. 
Volitional insanity, a form of mental disease in which 
the most striking phenomena are those relating to per- 
verted or impaired will-power. 
volitionally (vo-lish'pn-al-i), adv. In a voli- 
tional manner; as respects volition ; by the act 
of willing. 
It was able to move its right leg volitionally in all di- 
rections. Lancet, 1890, 1. 1415. 
volitionary (vo-lish'on-a-ri), a. [< volition + 
-ary.] Volitional. 
Dr. Berry Haycraft gave an account of some experi- 
ments which extend our knowledge of volitionary move- 
ment and explain the production of the muscle and heart 
sounds. Nature, XLI. 358. 
volitionless (vo-lish'on-les), a. [< volition + 
-less."] Without volition. 
The volitionless will 
J. Owen, Evenings with Skeptics, II. 415. 
volitive (vol'i-tiv), a. [< volit(ion) + -ive.] 1. 
Having the power to will; exercising volition. 
It is, therefore, an unreasonable conceit to think that 
God will continue an active, vital, intellective, volitive na- 
ture, form, power, force, inclination, in a noble substance, 
which shall use none of these for many hundred or thou- 
sand years, and so continue them in vain. 
Baxter, Dying Thoughts. 
2. Originating in the will. 
Wundt regards apperception as a particular process, in- 
serted between perception and volitive excitement. 
Alien, and Neural, (trans.), VI. 519. 
3. In riiet., expressing a wish or permission: 
as, a volitive proposition. 
Volitores (vol-i-t6'rez),n.p?. [NL.,prop. *Vol- 
atorcs, pi. of volator, a flier: see volator.] In 
Owen's classification, those birds which move 
solely or chiefly by flight, or are preeminent in 
ability to fly. It i the fifth order of the system, em- 
0784 
bracing 11 families, ns the swifts, humming-birds, i;n;it- 
suckiTK, kingfishers, hornbills, etc., intervening between 
his Cantorcx or singers and Scansorcg or climbers. It is an 
artificial group, practically equivalent to those Picaria' 
which are not yoke- toed, or to Picarife with the old group 
fScansores eliminated. [Not in use.] 
volitorial (vol-i-to'ri-al), a. [< Volitores + 
-iiil.] Of or pertaining to the Volitores. 
Volkameria (vol-ka-me'ri-a), n. [NL., named 
in honor of Volkamer, a German botanist.] 1. 
A Linnean genus of verbenaceous shrubs, now 
included in Clerodendron. Several species are cul- 
tivated for beauty or fragrance in tropical gardens, as C. 
(V.) aculeatltm, an American plant, and especially C. (V.) 
fragrant from China. C. (V.)inerme of maritime India is 
richly perfumed, and has a local reputation as a febrifuge. 
2. [/.<.] Aplantoftheforniergenusro/fcameria. 
Volkmanma (volk-man'i-a), n. [NL., < Volk- 
nianii (see dof.).] A fossil plant found in the 
coal-measures, and in regard to the nature of 
which there has been much uncertainty, it has 
recently been shown to be the fruit of Astfrophyllites of 
Brongniart (Calamocladus of Schimper). The plant was 
named by Steinberg, in 1820, in honor of G. A. Volkmaim, 
author of "Silesia Subterranea"(1720), in which work some 
of the fossil plants of that part of Germany were described. 
vollenget, n. See valanche. 
Volley (vol'i), . [Formerly also vollie, voley; < 
OF. volee, F. volec = Sp. volada = It. volata, a 
flight, < ML. as if *volata, < L. volarc, fly: see 
volant.'] 1. The flight of a number of missile 
weapons together; hence, the discharge simul- 
taneously, or nearly so, of a number of missile 
weapons. 
A volley of our needless shot. Shak., K. John, v. 5. 5. 
It may even be the case that in defensive positions, 
where the extent of ground open to view is considerable, 
long-range infantry fire regulated by volleys may be at- 
tempted. Encyc. Brit., XXIV. 357. 
2. Hence, a noisy or explosive burst or emis- 
sion of many things at once. 
A fine volley of words, gentlemen, and quickly shot off. 
Shak.,T. G. of V.,ii. 4. 33. 
What were those thousands of blaspheming Cavaliers 
about him, whosemouthes let fly Oaths and Curses by the 
voley? Milton, Eikonoklastcs. 
We heard a volley of oaths and curses. 
Addison, Tatler, No. 254. 
3. In lawn-tennis and tennis, a return of the 
ball by the racket before it touches the ground, 
especially a swift return. At volley, on the vol- 
ley IF. rt la volee], on the fly ; in passing ; at random. 
What we spake on the voley begins to work. 
Massinger, Picture, iii. 6. 
P. jun. Call you this jeering ! I can play at this ; 
'Tis like a ball at tennis. 
Aim. It is indeed, sir, 
When we do speak at volley all the ill 
We can one of another. B. Jonson, Staple of News, iv. 
volley (vol'i), v. [< volley, n.] I. trans. 1. To 
discharge in a volley, or as if in a volley : often 
with out. Compare volleyed. 
Another [hound] 
Against the welkin volleys md his voice. 
Shak., Venus and Adonis, 1. 921. 
2. In lawn-tennis and tennis, to return on the 
fly : said of the ball ; drive (the ball) with the 
racket before it strikes the ground. 
II. intrans. 1. To fly together, as missiles; 
hence, to issue or be discharged in large num- 
ber or quantity. 
The volleying rain and tossing breeze. 
M. Arnold, Thyrsis. 
Nothing good comes of brass, from whose embrasures 
there voUies forth but impudence, insolence, defiance. 
A. B. Alcott, Tablets, p. 72. 
2. To sound together, or in continuous or re- 
peated explosions, as firearms. 
And there the volleying thunders pour, 
Till waves grow smoother to the roar. 
Byron, Siege of Corinth, ii. 
Cannon in front of them 
Volley'd and thunder'd. 
Tennyson, Charge of the Light Brigade. 
3. In lawn-tennis and tennis, to return the ball 
before it touches the ground, especially by a 
swift stroke : as, he volleys well. 
volley-gun (vol'i-gun), n. A machine-gun or 
mitrailleuse. 
volowt (vol'6), v. t. [< ME. folewen, folwcn, 
fulwen, fallen, < AS. fulwian, fullian, baptize: 
B66/WH. The word is usually derived from 
L. volo, I will, that being the first word of the 
response used in the service.] To baptize: 
applied contemptuously by the Reformers. 
They brought them to confirmation straight from bap- 
tism, so that now oft-times they be voloiced and bishopped 
both in one day. 
Tyndale, Ans. to Sir T. More, etc. (Parker Soc., 1850), p. 72. 
VOlowert (vol'o-er), n. One who baptizes. 
Volscian (vol'sian), a. and . [< L. Volsci, the 
Volscians: see II., 1.] I. a. Pertaining to 
the Volscians. 
Voltairianism 
II. . 1. A member of an aiieient Italic peo- 
ple who dwelt southeast of Rome. 2. The lan- 
guage of the Volscians, related to Umbrian. 
volsella (vol-sel'a), 11. 1. Same as ritlsella. 
2f. Same as acaiitliolxiliis. 
volt 1 (volt), n. [< F. volte, a turn or wheel, < 
It. volta, a turn, < L. volrere, pp. volutus, turn 
about or round: see; raulft, volute.] 1. In the 
iiiniifyc, a round or circular tread; a gait of two 
treads made by a horse going sidewise round a 
center, with the head turned outward. 2. In 
fi-iifiiig, a sudden movement or leap to avoid a 
thrust. 
volt a (volt), H. [= F. volte; < It. Volta, the 
name of the discoverer of voltaism.] The prac- 
tical unit of electromotive force. It is 10" abso- 
lute units of E. M. F. on the centimeter-gram system, and 
is a little less than the E. M. F. of a Daniell cell. 
VOlta (vol'ta), n.; pi. volta (-te). [It., a turn: 
see volft.] 1. An old dance. See lavolta. 2. 
In music, turn or time : as, una volta, once ; due 
volte, twice ; prima volta, first time. Abbrevi- 
ated v. 
VOlta-electric (voFta-e-lek'trik), a. Pertain- 
ing to voltaic electricity or galvanism : as, volta- 
electric induction. 
VOlta-electricity (vol'tS-e-lek-tris'i-ti), n. 
Same as voltaic electricity, or galvanic electricity. 
See electricity. See voltaic cu rrent, under voltaic. 
VOlta-electrometer (vol'ta-e-lek-trom'e-ter), 
M. An instrument for the exact measurement, 
of electric currents ; a voltameter. 
VOlta-electromotive ( vol " t a-e-lek-tro-mo ' ti v) , 
a. Producing, or produced by, voltaic electro- 
motion. Volta-electromotive force, electromotive 
force produced in a manner analogous to that of the vol- 
taic battery. 
voltage 1 (vol'taj), n. [< volfl + -age.] In the 
manege, the .act of making a horse work upon 
volts. 
He assays 
Which way to manage an untrained horse, 
When, how, to spur and reign, to stop and raise, 
Close-sitting, voltage of a man-like force, 
When in career to meet with gallant course. 
Ford, Fame's Memorial. 
voltage 2 (vol'taj), u. [< volfi + -age.] Elec- 
tromotive force reckoned in volts. The voltage 
of a dynamo under any particular working conditions is 
the number of volts of electromotive force in its circuit 
under these conditions. 
voltagraphy (vol-tag'ra-fi), n. [Irreg. < oZ- 
ta(ic) + Gr. --ypa<j>ia, < ypdQnv, write.] The art 
of copying in metals deposited by electrolytic 
action any form or pattern which is made the 
negative surface of a voltaic circuit; copying 
by electrotypy. 
voltaic (vol-ta'ik), a. [< Volta (see def.) + -ic.] 
Of or pertaining to Alessandro Volta, an Italian 
physicist (1745-1827), who shares with Galvani 
the honor of having discovered the means of 
producing an electric current at the expense of 
chemical action upon one of two united plates 
of dissimilar metals. Of the two, however, the higher 
credit is due to Volta ; consequently, voltaic is more com- 
monly used than galvanic. Poles of a voltaic pile. 
See pole?. Voltaic arc. See orci, and electric light (un- 
der electric). Voltaic arch. Same as voltaic ore. Vol- 
taic battery, cell. See battery, 8 (6), and cell, 8 (with 
cuts). ~ Voltaic current, an electric current produced by 
a voltaic battery : sometimes applied to electric currents 
generally. Voltaic field, the space surrounding the elec- 
trodes or plates in an electrolytic cell during the process 
of electrolysis, Voltaic induction. See induction, 6. 
Voltaic pencil, a pencil by which etchings are executed 
by the action of a voltaic arc at its point. Voltaic pile, 
a column formed by successive pairs of plates of two dis- 
similar metals, as zinc and copper, alternating with moist- 
ened flannel or pasteboard, in regular order of succession : 
an early form of chemical battery devised by Volta. See 
cuts under battery, 8. 
Voltairean(vol-tar'e-an),a. Same as Voltairian. 
Voltairian (vol-tar'i-an), a. and n. [< Voltaire 
+ -tan.] I. a. Of or pertaining to Voltaire 
(Francois Marie Arouet, who when about 25 
years old took the name of Voltaire, said to 
be an anagram of "Arouet, 1. j." (that is, F. le 
jeune, the younger)), a famous French poet, 
dramatist, and historian (1C94-1778); resem- 
bling Voltaire. 
" Say they're levanting, Buchan," said Miller, who liked 
his joke, and would not have objected to be called Vol- 
tairian. George Eliot, Daniel Deronda, xlii. 
II. . One who advocates the principles of 
Voltaire. 
Voltairianism (vol-tar'i-an-izm), n. [< Voltair- 
ian + -I'NIH.] The Voltairian spirit; the doc- 
trines or philosophy of Voltaire ; specifically, 
the incredulity or skepticism, especially in re- 
gard to revealed Christianity, often attributed 
to Voltaire. 
He interprets Voltairianism as "a school based on de- 
structive irony." Athenmtm, No. 3273, p. 92. 
