adv. [f. prec. + -LY.] In a spontaneous manner.
1. By natural impulse; of a free and unconstrained will; of one’s own accord.
1660. R. Coke, Justice Vind., 7. Therefore Children … have will, and do things spontaneously.
1670. G. H., Hist. Cardinals, III. II. 266. Considering the offers many had spontaniously made him.
1751. Johnson, Rambler, No. 175, ¶ 10. He who is spontaneously suspicious, may be justly charged with radical corruption.
1794. R. J. Sulivan, View Nat., I. 130. For what is power or energy? Is it not a disposition to act, either spontaneously, or in consequence of some impression?
1809. Syd. Smith, Wks. (1859), I. 161/2. Monk spontaneously sent down some confidential letters, which turned the scale of evidence.
1856. Dove, Logic Chr. Faith, I. § 2. 37. This is correct so long as the mind acts … spontaneously.
1877. Brockett, Cross & Cresc., 456. The Sublime Porte spontaneously informed the prince … that it would spare no effort [etc.].
b. Without thought or premeditation.
1800. S. & Ht. Lee, Canterb. T. (ed. 2), III. 167. [The apology] sprang spontaneously to his lips.
1831. D. E. Williams, Life & Corr. Sir T. Lawrence, II. 383. In his letters, his opinions and sentiments are poured forth warmly and spontaneously as they arose.
1870. J. H. Newman, Gram. Assent, II. viii. 331. Taste, skill, invention in the fine arts … are exerted spontaneously, when once acquired.
2. By natural action; without apparent or obvious external cause or influence.
1658. Evelyn, Fr. Gard. (1675), 85. The unripe figs,… if they stay till they spontaneously quit the trees [etc.].
1664. Power, Exp. Philos., II. 143. You shall see the water spontaneously arise … in the Tube.
1764. Reid, Inquiry, vi. § 24. Truth goes forth spontaneously if not held back.
1776. Adam Smith, W. N., II. v. (1869), I. 364. If [the capital] was produced spontaneously, it would be or no value in exchange.
a. 1806. Horsley, Serm., xvii. (1816), II. 68. As the inquiry is of the highest importance, and spontaneously presents itself, it is to this that I shall devote the remainder of the present discourse.
1825. J. Neal, Bro. Jonathan, III. 188. A great bell … far below me, rang out, spontaneously, of itself.
1875. Jowett, Plato (ed. 2), I. 206. If only wisdom can be taught, and does not come to man spontaneously.
b. spec. By natural chemical or physical change or development.
1771. Encycl. Brit., II. 120/1. Some earths and stones abound so with nitre, that it effloresces spontaneously.
1794. G. Adams, Nat. & Exp. Philos., I. xii. 501. It takes fire spontaneously by the contact of air.
1804. Abernethy, Surg. Obs., 91. It is no uncommon circumstance to meet with wens, that have burst spontaneously.
1837. P. Keith, Bot. Lex., 35. The nascent bulbs, which … spontaneously detach themselves from the parent plant.
1878. Huxley, Physiogr., xv. 251. In other cases the coral animal spontaneously splits in two halves.
1892. Photogr. Ann., II. 517. This remarkable group of crystals was produced … quite spontaneously.
3. By natural growth; without being specially planted or cultivated.
a. 1682. Sir T. Browne, Tracts (1683), 52. This same plant may grow naturally and spontaneously in several countries.
1733. W. Ellis, Chiltern & Vale Farm., 84. Young Oaks … that spontaneously grow up from the Acorns.
1765. Museum Rust., IV. 242. Common hay which is mixed with burnet growing spontaneously.
1836. Macgillivray, Trav. Humboldt, xxv. 384. It is supposed by botanists that it grows spontaneously in the mountainous regions.
b. By natural production; without tillage.
1700. Evelyn, Diary, 13 July. Some foreign country which would produce spontaneously pines, firs,… yew, holly, and juniper.
1748. Anson’s Voy., I. v. (ed. 4), 61. The soil of the Island is truly luxuriant, producing fruits of most kinds spontaneously.
1830. Herschel, Study Nat. Philos., 2. The coarse aliments which the earth affords spontaneously.
