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more about arbitrary
arbitrary |
2 definitions found From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) [web1913]: Arbitrary \Ar"bi*tra*ry\, a. [L. arbitrarius fr arbiter: cf F. arbitraire See {Arbiter}.] 1. Depending on will or discretion; not governed by any fixed rules as an arbitrary decision; an arbitrary punishment. It was wholly arbitrary in them to do so --Jer. Taylor. Rank pretends to fix the value of every one and is the most arbitrary of all things --Landor. 2. Exercised according to one's own will or caprice, and therefore conveying a notion of a tendency to abuse the possession of power. Arbitrary power is most easily established on the ruins of liberty abused licentiousness. --Washington. 3. Despotic; absolute in power; bound by no law; harsh and unforbearing; tyrannical; as an arbitrary prince or government. --Dryden. {Arbitrary constant}, {Arbitrary function} (Math.), a quantity of function that is introduced into the solution of a problem, and to which any value or form may at will be given so that the solution may be made to meet special requirements. {Arbitrary quantity} (Math.), one to which any value can be assigned at pleasure. From WordNet r 1.6 [wn]: arbitrary 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" [ant: {nonarbitrary}]
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