arbitrary
From Wiktionary
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[edit] English
[edit] Etymology
From Latin arbitrarius, from arbiter - eye-witness, on-looker; judge, overseer, lord; executor. Mainly in legal context.
[edit] Pronunciation
[edit] Adjective
arbitrary (comparative more arbitrary, superlative most arbitrary)
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Positive |
Comparative |
Superlative |
- determined by impulse rather than reason; heavy-handed.
- "The Russian trials were Stalin's purges, with which he attempted to consolidate his power. Like most people in the West, I believed these show trials to be the arbitrary acts of a cruel dictator." (Max Born, Letters to Einstein)
- chosen for no reason, somewhat random.
- outcome usually technically logical.
- The equation is true for an arbitrary value of x.
[edit] Usage notes
- Something is arbitrary if its value is not determined by anything but choice.
[edit] Translations
Determined by impulse
n. - αυθαίρετος αριθμός, τυπογραφικό στοιχείο εκτός "οικογένειας", παράταιρο και ανομοιογενές στοιχείο |
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Chosen at random
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