\Ar"bi*tra*ry\, a. [L. arbitrarius, fr. arbiter: cf.
F. arbitraire. See {Arbiter}.]
1. Depending on will or discretion; not governed by any fixed
   rules; as, an arbitrary decision; an arbitrary punishment.
         It was wholly arbitrary in them to do so. --Jer.
                                               Taylor.
         Rank pretends to fix the value of every one, and is
         the most arbitrary of all things.     --Landor.
2. Exercised according to one's own will or caprice, and
   therefore conveying a notion of a tendency to abuse the
   possession of power.
         Arbitrary power is most easily established on the
         ruins of liberty abused licentiousness.
                                               --Washington.
3. Despotic; absolute in power; bound by no law; harsh and
   unforbearing; tyrannical; as, an arbitrary prince or
   government.                                 --Dryden.
{Arbitrary constant}, {Arbitrary function} (Math.), a
   quantity of function that is introduced into the solution
   of a problem, and to which any value or form may at will
   be given, so that the solution may be made to meet special
   requirements.
{Arbitrary quantity} (Math.), one to which any value can be
   assigned at pleasure.