Syn. — Will; choice; preference; determination; purpose. — Volition,
Choice. Choice is the familiar, and volition the scientific, term for
the same state of the will; viz., an "elective preference." When we
have "made up our minds" (as we say) to a thing, i. e., have a settled
state of choice respecting it, that state is called an immanent
volition; when we put forth any particular act of choice, that act is
called an emanent, or executive, or imperative, volition. When an
immanent, or settled state of, choice, is one which controls or governs
a series of actions, we call that state a predominant volition; while
we give the name of subordinate volitions to those particular acts of
choice which carry into effect the object sought for by the governing
or "predominant volition." See Will.
Vo*li"tion*al (?), a. Belonging or relating to volition. "The
volitional impulse." Bacon.
Vol"i*tive (?), a. [See Volition.] 1. Of or pertaining to the will;
originating in the will; having the power to will. "They not only
perfect the intellectual faculty, but the volitive." Sir M. Hale.
2. (Gram.) Used in expressing a wish or permission as, volitive
proposition.
||Volks"lied (?), n.; pl. Volkslieder (#). [G.] (Mus.) A popular song,
||or national air.
||
Vol"ley (?), n.; pl. Volleys (#). [F. volée; flight, a volley, or
discharge of several guns, fr. voler to fly, L. volare. See Volatile.]
1. A flight of missiles, as arrows, bullets, or the like; the
simultaneous discharge of a number of small arms.
Fiery darts in flaming volleys flew.
Milton.
Each volley tells that thousands cease to breathe.
Byron.
2. A burst or emission of many things at once; as, a volley of words.
"This volley of oaths." B. Jonson.
Rattling nonsense in full volleys breaks.
Pope.
3. (a) (Tennis) A return of the ball before it touches the ground. (b)
(Cricket) A sending of the ball full to the top of the wicket.
<! p. 1618 !>
Half volley. (a) (Tennis) A return of the ball immediately after is has
touched the ground. (b) (Cricket) A sending of the ball so that after
touching the ground it flies towards the top of the wicket. R. A.
Proctor. — On the volley, at random. [Obs.] "What we spake on the
volley begins work." Massinger. — Volley gun, a gun with several
barrels for firing a number of shots simultaneously; a kind of
mitrailleuse.
Vol"ley (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Volleyed (?); p. pr. & vb. n.
Volleying.] To discharge with, or as with, a volley.
Vol"ley, v. i. 1. To be thrown out, or discharged, at once; to be
discharged in a volley, or as if in a volley; to make a volley or
volleys. Tennyson.
2. (a) (Tennis) To return the ball before it touches the ground. (b)
(Cricket) To send the ball full to the top of the wicket. R. A.
Proctor.
Vol"leyed (?), a. Discharged with a sudden burst, or as if in a volley;
as, volleyed thunder.
Vol"ow (?), v. t. [From the answer, Volo I will, in the baptismal
service. Richardson (Dict.).] To baptize; — used in contempt by the
Reformers. [Obs.] Tyndale.