Ăr'bi-tra-ry, a.

(44), a. [Fr. arbitraire, Pr. arbitrari, Lat. arbitrarius, from arbitrari, to hear, to decide, from arbiter, q. v.] 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 or otherwise. Bp. Taylor. Arbitrary power is most easily established on the ruins of liberty abused to licentiousness. Washington. 2. Founded not on the nature of things, but on mere will or choice. Rank pretends to fix the value of every one, and is the most arbitrary of all things. Landor. 3. Despotic; absolute in power; having no external control; bound by no law; as, an arbitrary prince, or government. Dryden.