v. [f. L. arbitrāt- ppl. stem of arbitrā-ri to examine, give judgment, f. arbiter: see ARBITER and -ATE. Cf. earlier ARBITRE, through Fr.]
1. gen. (intr. or with subord. cl.) To give an authoritative decision, to decide. Obs. or arch.
1590. Swinburn, Testaments, 41. He did arbitrate and awarde, that … the cooke should bee recompensed.
1641. Milton, Ch. Govt., vi. (1851), 124. Let all impartial men arbitrate what goodly inference these two maine reasons … have.
1692. South, 12 Serm. (1697), I. 18. The mind … with an universal Superintendence, arbitrates … upon them all.
2. trans. To give an authoritative decision with regard to, decide, determine. arch.
1605. Shaks., Macb., V. iv. 20. But certaine issue stroakes must arbitrate.
1631. J. Taylor (Water P.), Fortune’s Wheele, 13. Now swordes, not wordes, doe kingdoms arbitrate.
a. 1677. Barrow, Serm. (1716), I. 6. Things must be compared to and arbitrated by her standard.
1785. Cowper, Task, II. 600. The sycophant That waits to dress us, arbitrates their date.
1872. Tennyson, Last Tourn., 104. But thou, Sir Lancelot, sitting in my place Enchair’d to-morrow, arbitrate the field.
b. To judge of. (J.)
1637. Milton, Comus, 411. An equal poise of hope and fear Does arbitrate the event.
3. intr. To act as formal arbitrator or umpire, to mediate (in a dispute, between contending parties).
1619. Sanderson, Serms., Ad. Cler. i. (1674), 2. The blessed Apostle … taketh upon him to arbitrate and to mediate in the business.
1806. Wellington, in Wellesley Disp. (1877), App. 97. Offers to arbitrate in the Mahratta claims.
1849. Macaulay, Hist. Eng., II. 3. He must relinquish all thought of arbitrating between contending nations.
4. trans. To settle by, or submit to, arbitration.
1592. Shaks., Rom. & Jul., IV. i. 63. Twixt my extreames and me, this bloody knife Shall play the vmpeere, arbitrating that, Which [etc.].
1647. Digges, Unlawf. Taking Arms, iv. 153. Let them arbitrate the differences.
1803. Wellesley, Disp. (1877), 300. To arbitrate … the terms of accommodation between Scindiah and Holkar.
1861. (Dec. 4) Bright, America, Sp. (1876), 98. Government may discuss this matter, they may arrange it, they may arbitrate it.
