Etymology Map
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Arbitrary

3 stages from Latin to English.

Today it means based on random choice

Where does the word "arbitrary" come from? It comes from Latin arbitrarius, passing through French before entering English (1400s).

1
Stage 1 of 3
arbitrarius
Latin · ancient
"depending on a judge's will"
from 'arbiter', judge
2
Stage 2 of 3
arbitraire
French · 1400s
"arbitrary"
used of decisions left to a judge's discretion
3
Stage 3 of 3
arbitrary
English · 1400s
"discretionary"
the sense 'random, unreasoned' dates from the 1600s
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Read the full story

Arbitrary’s story begins in Latin: arbitrarius meant “depending on a judge's will.” From 'arbiter', judge. By 1400s, the word had taken hold in French as arbitraire. Used of decisions left to a judge's discretion. It reached English by 1400s as arbitrary. The sense 'random, unreasoned' dates from the 1600s. Today, arbitrary means based on random choice.