Obs. Forms: 4–6 arbitre, 5 arbytre, -try, 5–7 arbetrie, 6–7 arbitrie, 7 -ry. [Two words: 1. Arbitre (e mute), a. OF. arbitre:—L. arbitrium judgment, will; 2. Arbitrie, -y, later ad. L. arbitri-um (cf. ministry). In 15th c. the spelling arbitre might represent either, as in cite, citie, city. OF. had also a rare arbitrie.]
1. Power to choose or act; own will or pleasure; arbitrary will.
c. 1374. Chaucer, Boeth., V. iii. 156. To distroien … Þe fredome of oure arbitre · þat is to seyn of oure fre wille.
1483. Caxton, Cato, E v. His free wylle and lyberalle arbytre for to doo hit or not.
1537. Instit. Chr. Man, B vj b. At his owne godly wyl, arbitre and dispensation.
1649. Selden, Laws of Eng., I. xxii. (1739), 40. Their rule … was made not by the arbitry of the General, but by Parliament.
2. Arbitration.
1535. Stewart, Cron. Scot., III. 132. Thair richtis bayth on arbetrie wes done.
1582–8. Hist. James VI. (1804), 89. To putt thair mater in arbitrie.
1609. Skene, Reg. Maj., 20. Arbitrie is ane lawfull deid of persons contendand.
3. Decision, sentence, award.
1375. Barbour, Bruce, I. 75. He suld that arbytre disclar.
c. 1615. Chapman, Odyss., XI. 738. Though arbitry Of all a court of war pronounc’d it mine.
