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   Spon·ta·ne·ous

   /spänˈtānēəs/

   

   adjective

   • 1. performed or occurring as a result of a sudden inner impulse or inclination and without premeditation or external stimulus: "the audience broke into spontaneous applause" Similar unforcedvoluntaryunconstrainedunpromptedunbiddenunsolicitedunplannedunpremeditatedunrehearsedimpulsiveimpetuousunstudiedimpromptuspur-of-the-momentextemporeextemporaneousunschooleduntaughtuninstructedinformal:off-the-cuffOpposite plannedforcedcalculated
   • ▪ (of a person) having an open, natural, and uninhibited manner. Similar naturaluninhibitedrelaxedunselfconsciousunaffectedeasyfree and easyimpulsiveimpetuousopengenuineOpposite inhibited
   • ▪ (of a process or event) occurring without apparent external cause: "spontaneous miscarriages"
   • ▪ (of movement or activity in an organism) instinctive or involuntary: "the spontaneous mechanical activity of circular smooth muscle" Similar reflexautomaticknee-jerkinvoluntaryunthinkingunconsciousinstinctiveinstinctualinformal:gutOpposite conscious
   • ▪ (of a plant) growing naturally and without being tended or cultivated.

   Word Origin mid 17th century: from late Latin spontaneus (from (sua) sponte ‘of (one's) own accord’) + -ous.

   Derivatives

   • 1. spontaneousness noun

   Scrabble Points: 13

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