Arbitrer

Part of speech: noun, verb

Definitions

1. Acting as an impartial third party to resolve a dispute or disagreement between two or more parties
2. Functioning to make decisions or judgments in a formal context, often legally binding
3. Serving to mediate conflicts and establish fair resolutions based on agreed-upon principles

Etymology: Latin "arbiter" originally named a witness, someone present to see an event, and the sense of judge grew out of that role. The usual analysis breaks it into a prefix meaning "to" and a verb meaning "to go," so an arbiter was, literally, one who went to see. The verb comes from Latin "arbitrari," to judge or hold an opinion. French developed it into "arbitrer," meaning to settle a dispute as a judge would, and this spelling is the one that reached English.

Synonyms: judge, umpire, mediator, referee, adjudicator

Antonyms: participant, litigant