arbitrariness
/ˈɑːbəˌtɹeɹinəs/AHR-buh-treh-ree-nuhs
UK form converted from the US by rule · unchecked/ˈɑɹbəˌtɹɛɹinəs/AHR-buh-treh-ree-nuhs
Meaningbeing arbitrary
Common meaning: lack of reason or rule
Tap a word part to explore
- arbitra witness, judge, umpireLewis & Short, Latin Dictionary (1879), p. 151 · scan
- ariending: linked with, or a place for
- nessnoun ending: the state of being
Journey through time
- Latinarbiter‘a witness, judge, umpire’
- Englisharbitrary‘based on whim rather than reason’
- Englishformed in English from arbitraryarbitrariness‘lack of reason or rule’ · today
Sources & notes
Meaning: “Meaning” is the sense that emerges from the word’s roots; “Common meaning” is today’s everyday sense. Both written by us.
Pronunciation
- UK IPA: converted from the US form by rule (unchecked). Respelling: generated.
- No UK recording; the speaker uses your device’s en-GB voice.
- US IPA: CMUdict (BSD-2), converted to IPA by rule. Respelling: generated.
- No US recording; the speaker uses your device’s en-US voice.
Origin: Formed in English from arbitrary + -ness.
Dictionary: Skeat (1898), ARBITRARY, p.31 · scan
Roots
- arbiter Latin “a witness, judge, umpire”
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