Forms: 5 9 arbitre-, 5–8 arbitri-, 6–7 arbiter-, 7 arbitter-, 6– arbitrament. [a. OF. arbitrement, f. arbitre-r: see ARBITRE v. and -MENT; latinized as arbitrament, a form rare before c. 1830, and disapproved by Johnson, but now the more usual. Du Cange has arbitrāmentum in med.L.]
† 1. The right or capacity to decide for oneself; freedom of the will, free choice, pleasure. Obs.
c. 1400. Test. Loue, III. (R.). Euery man hath free arbitrement to choose good or yuel to perform.
1548. Geste, Pr. Masse, 136. If we moughte order Christes supper after our arbitrement.
1667. Milton, P. L., VIII. 641. To stand or fall Free in thine own Arbitrement it lies.
1810. Coleridge, Friend, I. xv. (1867), 65. The oldness of my topics, evil and good, necessity and arbitrement.
2. The power to decide for others; absolute decision, direction or control. Obs. (exc. as it approaches 3 b.)
1534. Ld. Berners, Gold. Bk. M. Aurel. (1546), E vj. I committe to your charge and arbitrement, that thing.
1594. Hooker, Eccl. Pol., III. (1617), 119. Some things belonging vnto externall Discipline and Ceremonies, are in the power and arbitrement of the Church.
1622. Malynes, Anc. Law-Merch., 168. But of late yeares all is left to the arbitrement of the Admiralls, to consider the finder or taker with some portion for his trauells, charges, and danger.
a. 1734. North, Exam., III. vii. ¶ 36. 529. The Affairs of the Crown were … lapsing into the total Arbitriment of the Commons.
1842. Alison, Hist. Eur., XIV. xcv. § 46. 121. The arbitrament of the affairs of Europe.
1856. Ruskin, Mod. Paint., III. IV. iii. § 16. Subduing all his powers, impulses, and imaginations, to the arbitrernent of a merciless justice.
3. The deciding of a dispute by an authority to whom the conflicting parties agree to refer their claims in order to their equitable settlement.
1549. Coverdale, Erasm. Par. 1 Cor. Argt. 2. To finishe it among themselves, by the arbitremente of any suche, as they thought mete. [Rom. Argt. ‘arbitrament.’]
c. 1613. Rowlands, More Knaues Yet, 39. An arbitterment, To make all friends.
1622. Malynes, Anc. Law-Merch., 447. By way of Arbitrement, when both parties doe make choice of honest men to end their causes.
1831. Brewster, Newton, I. iv. 87. In the arbitraments of science it has always been a difficult task to adjust the rival claims of competitors.
1876. Bancroft, Hist. U. S., I. ix. 293. The controversy had required the arbitrament of the elders.
b. fig. and transf.
1599. Shaks., Hen. V., IV. i. 168. The arbitrement of Swords.
1751. Smollett, Per. Pic. (1779), I. xxv. 230. Impossible to bring the cause to mortal arbitrement at that time.
1863. Kirk, Chas. the Bold, I. 211. Appeal to the slow arbitrament of Time.
1870. Gladstone, Glean., IV. xxix. 219. An immediate resort to the arbitrament of war.
4. The sentence pronounced by an arbitrator, or by one deciding authoritatively; decision; sentence accepted as authoritative.
1424. Paston Lett., No. 4, I. 14. Wolde have holde and performyd the sayd ordinaunce, arbitrement, and award.
1576. Abp. Grindal, Fruitf. Dial. (1843), 61. But will you stand to St. Augustine’s arbitrement in the matter?
1642. Bridge, Wound. Consc. Cured, v. 37. To renounce their arbitrement and sentence.
1848. Lytton, Harold, V. 324. I will not abide by the arbitrement of a pope.
1872. Ruskin, Eagle’s Nest, § 182. Neither stone, flower, beast, nor man can understand any single reason of the arbitrement.
† 5. Settlement or arrangement of a dispute; compromise, friendly agreement. Obs.
1549. Olde, Erasm. Par. 1 Tim. i. 5. He whiche shoulde make the arbitrement of concorde bytwene God and menne.
1625. Bacon, Unity Relig., Ess. (Arb.), 427. As if they would make an Arbitrement, betweene God and Man.
