Random | Webster's Dictionary (1865)

Răn'dŏm, n.

noun

n. [O. Eng. randon, Scot. randoun, A-S. randūn, O. Fr. & Pr. randon, force, violence, rapidity, à randon, de randon, violently, suddenly, rapidly, from Ger. & Eng. rand, border, edge; Icel. rönd, margin, extremity. See supra.]

Sense 1. A roving motion; course without definite direction; want of direction, rule, or method; hazard; chance;—used especially in the phrase at random, that is, without a settled point of direction; at hazard.

Sense 2. Distance to which a missile is thrown or projected; range; reach; as, the furthest random of a missile weapon. Digby.

Sense 3. (Mining.) Distance from a determined horizon; depth below a given plane.

Răn'dŏm, a.

adjective

a. Done at hazard, or without settled aim or purpose; done without previous calculation; left to chance; as, a random guess.

Some random truths he can impart. Wordsworth.

Random shot, a shot not directed or aimed toward any particular object, or a shot with the muzzle of the gun elevated above an horizontal line. Brande.

Răn'dŏm, n.

noun

n. Random. [Obs.] Spencer.

Răn'dŏm, v. i.

verbintransitive

v. i. [See RANDOM, n.] To stray or rove wildly; to go at random. [Obs.]