spon·ta·ne·ous
(spŏn-tā́nē-əs)
[From Late Latin spontāneus, of one's own accord, from Latin sponte.]
adjective
- Happening or arising without apparent external cause; self-generated.
- Arising from a natural inclination or impulse and not from external incitement or constraint.
- Unconstrained and unstudied in manner or behavior.
- Growing without cultivation or human labor.
derivatives
- spon·táne·ous·ly
- adverb
- spon·táne·ous·ness
- noun
synonyms:
spontaneous, impulsive, instinctive, involuntary, automatic These adjectives mean acting, reacting, or happening without apparent forethought or prompting. Spontaneous applies to what arises naturally rather than resulting from external constraint or stimulus: “The highest and best form of efficiency is the spontaneous cooperation of a free people” (Woodrow Wilson) Impulsive refers to the operation of a sudden urge or feeling not governed by reason: Buying a car was an impulsive act that he immediately regretted. Instinctive implies behavior that is a natural consequence of membership in a species. The term also applies to what reflects or comes about as a result of a natural inclination or innate impulse: Helping people in an emergency seems as instinctive as breathing. Involuntary refers to what is not subject to the control of the will: “People drew in their breath with involuntary surprise and suspense” (Harriet Beecher Stowe) Automatic implies an unvarying mechanical response or reaction: She accepted the subpoena with an automatic “thank you.”
