Arbitrary
['ɑːbɪt(rə)rɪ] or ['ɑrbətrɛri]
Definition
(adj.) 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' .
Checked by Angelique--From WordNet
Definition
(a.) Depending on will or discretion; not governed by any fixed rules; as, an arbitrary decision; an arbitrary punishment.
(a.) Exercised according to one's own will or caprice, and therefore conveying a notion of a tendency to abuse the possession of power.
(a.) Despotic; absolute in power; bound by no law; harsh and unforbearing; tyrannical; as, an arbitrary prince or government.
Typist: Melville
Synonyms and Synonymous
a. [1]. Irresponsible, absolute, tyrannical, tyrannous, imperious, domineering, bound by no law.[2]. Optional, voluntary, determined by no rule or principle.
Checker: Thomas
Synonyms and Antonyms
SYN:Tyrannical, harsh, dictatorial, imperious, bearing, overbearing, selfish,absolute, irresponsible, tyrannous, domineering, peremptory
ANT:Mild, modest, lenient, considerate, obliging, limited, equitable,constitutional
Edited by Ben
Definition
adj. not bound by rules: despotic absolute arising from accident rather than from rule varying uncertain.—adv. Ar′bitrarily.—n. Ar′bitrariness.
Typist: Pearl
Examples
- It is, of course, arbitrary to separate industrial competency from capacity in good citizenship. John Dewey. Democracy and Education.
- It is not merely an arbitrary decision of theirs, come to without reason. Elizabeth Cleghorn Gaskell. North and South.
- These services, therefore, being almost entirely arbitrary, subjected the tenant to many vexations. Adam Smith. An Inquiry into the Nature and Causes of the Wealth of Nations.
- Why, she was called in the Institution, Harriet Beadle--an arbitrary name, of course. Charles Dickens. Little Dorrit.
- Such a meaning would be arbitrary and could not be deduced in any way. Arthur Conan Doyle. The Memoirs of Sherlock Holmes.
- Their isolation, and consequently their purely arbitrary going together, is canceled; a unified developing situation takes its place. John Dewey. Democracy and Education.
- It is a closed corporation, and you create arbitrary objections in order to keep people out. Edith Wharton. The House of Mirth.
- This fine, which was at first arbitrary, came, in many countries, to be regulated at a certain portion of the price of the land. Adam Smith. An Inquiry into the Nature and Causes of the Wealth of Nations.
- Very fine talking, retorted George Lamb, but, in fact, love is the most arbitrary passion we are susceptible of. Harriette Wilson. The Memoirs of Harriette Wilson.
- If it is a purely arbitrary one, it may be impossible for us to solve it. Arthur Conan Doyle. The Return of Sherlock Holmes.
- The tax which each individual is bound to pay, ought to be certain and not arbitrary. Adam Smith. An Inquiry into the Nature and Causes of the Wealth of Nations.
- Though most governments are _de facto_ arbitrary, and consequently the curse and scandal of human nature, yet none are _de jure_ arbitrary. H. G. Wells. The Outline of History_Being a Plain History of Life and Mankind.
- As matter of fact, science serves all these purposes, and it would be an arbitrary task to try to fix upon one of them as its real end. John Dewey. Democracy and Education.
- In despair of other solutions to its intellectual discords it had resorted to arbitrary authority. H. G. Wells. The Outline of History_Being a Plain History of Life and Mankind.
- To judge by his threats, he would have employed arbitrary, even cruel, means to advance the cause of freedom and equality. Charlotte Bronte. Shirley.
- Though the rules of justice be artificial, they are not arbitrary. David Hume. A Treatise of Human Nature.
- They are in no respect arbitrary, but are, or may be, in all cases, perfectly clear and certain. Adam Smith. An Inquiry into the Nature and Causes of the Wealth of Nations.
- I wish Society was not so arbitrary, I wish it was not so exacting--Bird, be quiet! Charles Dickens. Little Dorrit.
- We apply our measure to uniform extension, meting out the waters by fathoms or space by the sun's diame ter, and even subject time to arbitrary divisions. Walter Libby. An Introduction to the History of Science.
- Extensive arbitrary prohibitions for the boys, for the girls, for the women, also probably came very early into human history. H. G. Wells. The Outline of History_Being a Plain History of Life and Mankind.
- Capitation taxes, if it is attempted to proportion them to the fortune or revenue of each contributor, become altogether arbitrary. Adam Smith. An Inquiry into the Nature and Causes of the Wealth of Nations.
- Several of the best botanists, such as Mr. Bentham and others, have strongly insisted on their arbitrary value. Charles Darwin. On the Origin of Species by Means of Natural Selection.
- The houses are from five to seven feet high, and all built upon one arbitrary plan--the ungraceful form of a dry-goods box. Mark Twain. The Innocents Abroad.
- There is difficulty because we have not selected an arbitrary unit of work. Bertha M. Clark. General Science.
- The public services to which the yeomanry were bound, were not less arbitrary than the private ones. Adam Smith. An Inquiry into the Nature and Causes of the Wealth of Nations.
- This classification is not arbitrary like the grouping of the stars in constellations. Charles Darwin. On the Origin of Species by Means of Natural Selection.
- He saw the need for versatility--for more simplicity in operation--for getting away from arbitrary rules--for release from the sapping mental tax. Various. The Wonder Book of Knowledge.
Typist: Pearl