ARBITRARY

arbitrary

(adjective) based on or subject to individual discretion or preference or sometimes impulse or caprice; “an arbitrary decision”; “the arbitrary rule of a dictator”; “an arbitrary penalty”; “of arbitrary size and shape”; “an arbitrary choice”; “arbitrary division of the group into halves”

Source: WordNet® 3.1

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Etymology

Adjective

arbitrary (comparative more arbitrary, superlative most arbitrary)

(usually, of a decision) Based on individual discretion or judgment; not based on any objective distinction, perhaps even made at random.

Determined by impulse rather than reason; heavy-handed.

(mathematics) Any, out of all that are possible.

Determined by independent arbiter.

(linguistics) Not representative or symbolic; not iconic.

Noun

arbitrary (plural arbitraries)

Anything arbitrary, such as an arithmetical value or a fee.

Source: Wiktionary

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Ar"bi*tra*ry, a. Etym: [L. arbitrarius, fr. arbiter: cf. F. arbitraire. See Arbiter.]

1. Depending on will or discretion; not governed by any fixed rules; as, an arbitrary decision; an arbitrary punishment. It was wholly arbitrary in them to do so. Jer. Taylor. Rank pretends to fix the value of every one, and is the most arbitrary of all things. Landor.

2. Exercised according to one's own will or caprice, and therefore conveying a notion of a tendency to abuse the possession of power. Arbitrary power is most easily established on the ruins of liberty abused licentiousness. Washington.

3. Despotic; absolute in power; bound by no law; harsh and unforbearing; tyrannical; as, an arbitrary prince or government. Dryden. Arbitrary constant, Arbitrary function (Math.), a quantity of function that is introduced into the solution of a problem, and to which any value or form may at will be given, so that the solution may be made to meet special requirements.

– Arbitrary quantity (Math.), one to which any value can be assigned at pleasure.

Source: Webster’s Unabridged Dictionary 1913 Edition

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