Arbitraries

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

  1. Unpredictable or whimsical actions or decisions made without a fixed rule or reason; elements that seem random or subject to individual will; principles or choices lacking systematic foundation
  2. Conduct or choices characterized by discretion based on personal preference rather than consistent standards; behaviors or rules determined by chance or caprice; instances where decisions are made without clear justification
  3. Practices or situations governed by unpredictable impulses and personal judgment rather than objective criteria; arbitrary acts lacking uniformity or constraint; examples of decisions made on an ad hoc or impulsive basis

Etymology: The noun form in question, appearing as a plural, traces back to the adjective "arbitrary," which itself entered English in the late Middle Ages, around the 15th century. Originally, "arbitrary" came from the Latin "arbitrarius," meaning "depending on the will or judgment of an arbiter," derived from "arbiter," signifying a person empowered to judge or decide. This root reflects an authority figure whose verdict is based on discretion rather than a fixed rule. Over time, the adjective "arbitrary" evolved from describing decisions made by an appointed judge to a broader sense of choices or actions based on personal whim or preference, often lacking consistent rationale. This shift expanded the word's application beyond legal or formal judgment to everyday decisions perceived as capricious or subjective. The noun form, formed by adding the suffix "-ies" to "arbitrary," emerged as a way to denote instances or examples of such capricious decisions or principles. The plural "arbitraries" refers collectively to various arbitrary elements, often used in philosophical, legal, or critical discussions to highlight subjective or non-essential components in a system or argument. While the plural noun is less common than the adjective, it functions to encapsulate multiple arbitrary factors or choices, underscoring their lack of inherent necessity or universal rule. This formation aligns with English’s tendency to convert adjectives into nouns to express abstract concepts or collections of qualities, particularly during the 17th and 18th centuries when English absorbed many Latinate suffixes to enrich its expressive capacity.

Synonyms: randomness, caprices, whims, fancies, decisions

Antonyms: rules, principles, standards, logic