Part 338

{ Ar"ba*lest (&?;), Ar"ba*list (&?;), } n. [OF. arbaleste, LL. arbalista, for L. arcuballista; arcus bow + ballista a military engine. See Ballista.] (Antiq.) A crossbow, consisting of a steel bow set in a shaft of wood, furnished with a string and a trigger, and a mechanical device for bending the bow. It served to throw arrows, darts, bullets, etc. [Written also arbalet and arblast.] Fosbroke.

{ Ar"ba*lest`er (&?;), Ar"ba*list`er (&?;), } n. [OF. arblastere, OF. arbalestier. See Arbalest.] A crossbowman. [Obs.] Speed.

Ar"bi*ter (&?;), n. [L. arbiter; ar- (for ad) + the root of betere to go; hence properly, one who comes up to look on.] 1. A person appointed, or chosen, by parties to determine a controversy between them.

In modern usage, arbitrator is the technical word.

2. Any person who has the power of judging and determining, or ordaining, without control; one whose power of deciding and governing is not limited.

For Jove is arbiter of both to man. Cowper.

Syn. -- Arbitrator; umpire; director; referee; controller; ruler; governor.

Ar"bi*ter, v. t. To act as arbiter between. [Obs.]

Ar"bi*tra*ble (&?;), a. [Cf. F. arbitrable, fr. L. arbitrari. See Arbitrate, v. t.] Capable of being decided by arbitration; determinable. [Archaic] Bp. Hall.

Ar"bi*trage (&?;), n. [F., fr. arbiter to give judgment, L. arbitrari.] 1. Judgment by an arbiter; authoritative determination. [Archaic]

2. (Com) A traffic in bills of exchange (see Arbitration of Exchange); also, a traffic in stocks which bear differing values at the same time in different markets.

Ar"bi*tral (&?;), a. [L. arbitralis.] Of or relating to an arbiter or an arbitration. [R.]

Ar*bit"ra*ment (&?;), n. [LL. arbitramentum.] 1. Determination; decision; arbitration.

The arbitrament of time. Everett.

Gladly at this moment would MacIvor have put their quarrel to personal arbitrament. Sir W. Scott.

2. The award of arbitrators. Cowell.

Ar"bi*tra*ri*ly (&?;), adv. In an arbitrary manner; by will only; despotically; absolutely.

Ar"bi*tra*ri*ness, n. The quality of being arbitrary; despoticalness; tyranny. Bp. Hall.

Ar`bi*tra"ri*ous (&?;), a. [L. arbitrarius. See Arbitrary.] Arbitrary; despotic. [Obs.] -- Ar`bi*tra"ri*ous*ly, adv. [Obs.]

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.

Ar"bi*trate (&?;), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Arbitrated (&?;); p. pr. & vb. n. Arbitrating (&?;).] [L. arbitratus, p. p. of arbitrari to be a hearer or beholder of something, to make a decision, to give judgment, fr. arbiter. See Arbiter.] 1. To hear and decide, as arbitrators; as, to choose to arbitrate a disputed case.

2. To decide, or determine generally. South.