arbitrary

形容词 arbitrary:

1. based on or subject to individual discretion or preference or sometimes impulse or caprice

1. An arbitrary amount of information whose beginning and end are defined or implied.
   一组任意量的信息，其起始和结束是确定的或隐含的。
2. I have no idea of what is in fashion so my choice is quite arbitrary.
   我不知道什么时兴，因此我的选择是非常随意的。
3. Most presidents in this African country are arbitrary rulers.
   这个非洲国家的总统大多数是专横的统治者。
4. The choice of players for the team seems completely arbitrary.
   对队员的挑选似乎完全是主观决定的。

ar.bi.trar.y

adj.（形容词）
Determined by chance, whim, or impulse, and not by necessity, reason, or principle:
任意的，武断的：由偶然、一时兴致或冲动而非由必然、推理或原则决定的：
例句：
stopped at the first motel we passed, an arbitrary choice; arbitrary division of the group into halves.
在我们经过的第一个汽车旅馆处停下，一种随意的选择；将小组分为两等分的一时兴起的分派

Based on or subject to individual judgment or preference:
专制的，专断的：基于或遵从于个人判断或喜好：
例句：
The diet imposes overall calorie limits, but daily menus are arbitrary.
食谱规定了总的卡路里限制，但每天的菜单可据爱好自定

Established by a court or judge rather than by a specific law or statute:
由法庭的法官而非专业法律或法官决定的：
例句：
an arbitrary penalty.
判决的刑罚

Not limited by law; despotic:
不受法律限制的；专制的：
例句：
the arbitrary rule of a dictator.
独裁者的专制统治

来源：
Middle English arbitrarie
中古英语 arbitrarie
from Latin arbitr3rius
源自 拉丁语 arbitr3rius
from arbiter arbitr- [arbiter]
源自 arbiter arbitr- [仲裁者]

【引伸】
ar.bitrar.ily
ar.bitrar.iness
n.（名词）
<参考词汇><同义词>arbitrary,capricious,whimsicalThe central meaning shared by these adjectives is .determined by or arising from whim or caprice rather than judgment or reason.:
这些形容词共有的中心意思是.由冲动或奇想而非判断力或推理决定或得出的.：
例句：
an arbitrary decision;
一时兴起的决定；

例句：
a capricious refusal;
忽发奇想的拒绝；

例句：
the butt of whimsical persecution.
异想天开迫害的对象。