释义 |
WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2024ar•bi•trar•y /ˈɑrbɪˌtrɛri/USA pronunciation adj. - decided on or done by personal discretion, rather than by reason:an arbitrary decision.
- Governmenthaving unlimited power; despotic: an arbitrary government.
- capricious;
unreasonable; unsupported: an arbitrary demand for obedience. ar•bi•trar•i•ly /ˌɑrbɪˈtrɛrəli/USA pronunciation adv. ar•bi•trar•i•ness, n. [uncountable] WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2024ar•bi•trar•y (är′bi trer′ē),USA pronunciation adj., n., pl. -trar•ies. adj. - subject to individual will or judgment without restriction; contingent solely upon one's discretion:an arbitrary decision.
- decided by a judge or arbiter rather than by a law or statute.
- Governmenthaving unlimited power;
uncontrolled or unrestricted by law; despotic; tyrannical:an arbitrary government. - capricious;
unreasonable; unsupported:an arbitrary demand for payment. - Mathematicsundetermined;
not assigned a specific value:an arbitrary constant. n. - Printing arbitraries, Print. (in Britain) peculiar (def. 9).
- Latin arbitrārius uncertain (i.e., depending on an arbiter's decision). See arbiter, -ary
- late Middle English 1400–50
ar•bi•trar•i•ly (är′bi trer′ə lē, är′bi trâr′-),USA pronunciation adv. ar′bi•trar′i•ness, n. Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers:: arbitrary /ˈɑːbɪtrərɪ/ adj - founded on or subject to personal whims, prejudices, etc; capricious
- having only relative application or relevance; not absolute
- (of a government, ruler, etc) despotic or dictatorial
- (esp of a penalty or punishment) not laid down by statute; within the court's discretion
Etymology: 15th Century: from Latin arbitrārius arranged through arbitration, uncertain |