volia · noun — freedom; lack of restraint or constriction. It carries an Arena rating of 1631, earned across 11 head-to-head judged battles.
Definition from Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 3.0).
Among words judged in Lexicurio's Arena, volia ranks #1,110 of 17,135 for Most Betrayed by Its Sound, #3,895 of 17,135 for Most Beautiful Words, #4,409 of 17,135 for Most Elegant Words, #4,965 of 17,144 for Most Malleable Words.
Why “volia” is a great word
The innate, unlegislated condition of an individual's sovereign will and freedom of choice. Borrowed from Russian во́ля (vólja) or Ukrainian во́ля (vólja), meaning 'will, freedom'. Unlike liberty, which is framed by parchment and law, or license, which hints at sanctioned transgression, volia is the raw, inherent capacity of the self. It is the breath drawn before the oath is sworn, the unbidden turn from a well-trodden path, and the profound silence of a mind that answers to no master—the austere and irreducible sovereignty of the interior world.
❧ Essay by Lexicurio’s AI · definition, etymology & citations from published sources
Etymology
Borrowed from Russian во́ля (vólja) or Ukrainian во́ля (vólja).
noun
- freedom; lack of restraint or constriction.e.g.“The new restrictions being placed on the bride added up to a loss of her former “volia”.” — 1995, Daniel Rancour-Laferriere, The Slave Soul of Russia, page 198:
- liberty; independence, the right of individuals to choose their own goals.e.g.“Volia, as longing for freedom – freedom of thoughts, beliefs, and acts – is what helped to form and preserve the Ukrainian nation.” — 2023, What is volia, the Ukrainian superpower, that keeps us going?:
Definitions & examples from Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 3.0).
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