a. [ad. L. arbitrāri-us, f. arbiter (perh. after F. arbitraire, 15th c.): see -ARY.]
† 1. To be decided by one’s liking; dependent upon will or pleasure; at the discretion or option of any one. Obs. in general use.
1574. Whitgift, Def. Answ., ii. Wks. 1851, I. 227. The same things were arbitrary, and might have been otherwise.
1628. Bp. Hall, Right. Mammon, 727. It is not left arbitrary to you that you may doe good if you will.
1673. Lady’s Call., I. § 5, ¶ 64. As if they thought it a very arbitrary matter whether they come or no.
1768. Blackstone, Comm., II. 26. He might give them to what priests he pleased; which were called arbitrary consecrations of tithes.
2. Law. Relating to, or dependent on, the discretion of an arbiter, arbitrator, or other legally recognized authority; discretionary, not fixed.
1581. Lambarde, Eiren., IV. xv. 572. Judgements … arbitrarie, or referred to discretion.
1693. Wharton, Spec. Burnet’s Err., 67 (T.). Impropriated livings, which have now no settled endowment and are therefore called not vicarages, but perpetual or sometimes arbitrary curacies.
1704. Lond. Gaz., mmmmlxxxiii/4. A Mannor … with Quit Rents and Fines Arbitrary.
1880. Muirhead, Gaius, IV. § 163. If the defender have demanded a reference to an arbiter, he obtains what is called an arbitrary formula.
1882. Scriven, Copyholds (ed. 6), 155. An admission fine is primâ facie uncertain, or in legal phraseology arbitrary. But the fines on admission to copyholds of inheritance, even if arbitrary, must be reasonable.
3. Derived from mere opinion or preference; not based on the nature of things; hence, capricious, uncertain, varying.
1646. Sir T. Browne, Pseud. Ep., 170. From succeeding spectators they received arbitrary appellations.
1753. Johnson, Advent., No. 111, ¶ 6. Our estimation of birth is arbitrary and capricious.
1865. Tylor, Early Hist. Man., iii. 35. I do not believe there is a really arbitrary sign among them.
1865. R. W. Dale, Jew. Temple, xiii. (1877), 143. Their whole scheme of interpretation is purely arbitrary.
4. Unrestrained in the exercise of will; of uncontrolled power or authority, absolute; hence, despotic, tyrannical.
1642. in Rushw., Hist. Coll., III. (1692), I. 763. Acts of Will and Tyranny, which make up an Arbitrary Government.
1718. Pope, Iliad, I. 236. Rule thy own realms with arbitrary sway.
1832. Ht. Martineau, Demerara, i. 5. No tyrant, no arbitrary disposer of the fortunes of his inferiors.
1862. Hook, Lives Abps., II. ii. 159. The conduct of the Archbishop appears to have been arbitrary and harsh.
B. as sb. (sc. number, term, etc.)
1879. Thomson & Tait, Nat. Phil., I. I. § 343 f. The complete solution of the differential equations … written as follows, to show its arbitraries explicitly.
