arbitrary: [15] Arbitrary comes ultimately from Latin arbiter ‘judge’, via the derived adjective arbitrārius. It originally meant ‘decided by one’s own discretion or judgment’, and has since broadened, and ‘worsened’, in meaning to ‘capricious’. The Latin noun has of course contributed a large number of other words to English, including arbiter [15] itself, arbitrate [16] (via the Latin verb arbitrārī), and arbitrament [14]. Arbitrage in the sense ‘buying and selling shares to make a profit’ is a 19thcentury borrowing from French, where it means literally ‘arbitration’. => arbitrate
arbitrary (adj.)
early 15c., "deciding by one's own discretion," from Old French arbitraire (14c.) or directly from Latin arbitrarius "depending on the will, uncertain," from arbiter (see arbiter). The original meaning gradually descended to "capricious" and "despotic" (1640s). Related: Arbitrarily; arbitrariness.
双语例句
1. The choice of players for the team seemed completely arbitrary.
看来这个队的队员完全是随意选定的。
来自《权威词典》
2. A good judge does not make arbitrary decisions.
一个优秀的法官不会作武断的判决.
来自《简明英汉词典》
3. You can make an arbitrary choice.
你可以随便做选择.
来自《简明英汉词典》
4. He makes unpredictable, arbitrary decisions.
他做的决定难以预料, 主观武断.
来自《简明英汉词典》
5. Arbitrary arrests and detention without trial were common.
