arbitration

Where does the word "arbitration" come from? It comes from Latin arbitrari, and was adopted directly into English (1400s).

Arbitration’s story begins in Latin: arbitrari meant “to judge, to decide.” To judge, to be a witness, from arbiter (a judge). It reached English by 1400s as arbitration. Settled as the English word for settling a dispute through a neutral judge. Today, arbitration means the process of resolving a dispute through a neutral third party, outside of court.

1. Stage 1 · Latin · ancient arbitrari "to judge, to decide", to judge, to be a witness, from arbiter (a judge).
2. Stage 2 · English · 1400s arbitration "the settlement of a dispute by a neutral party", settled as the English word for settling a dispute through a neutral judge.