arbitrary — ar·bi·trary / är bə ˌtrer ē/ adj 1: depending on individual discretion (as of a judge) and not fixed by standards, rules, or law the manner of punishment is arbitrary 2 a: not restrained or limited in the exercise of power an arbitrary government … Law dictionary
capricious — ca·pri·cious /kə pri shəs, prē / adj 1: governed or characterized by impulse or whim: as a: lacking a rational basis b: likely to change suddenly 2: not supported by the weight of evidence or established rules of law often used in the phrase… … Law dictionary
capricious — adjective Impulsive and unpredictable; determined by chance, impulse, or whim I almost died in a capricious winter storm. Syn: whimsical, arbitrary … Wiktionary
arbitrary — In an unreasonable manner, as fixed or done capriciously or at pleasure. Without adequate determining principle; not founded in the nature of things; nonrational; not done or acting according to reason or judgment; depending on the will alone;… … Black's law dictionary
arbitrary — In an unreasonable manner, as fixed or done capriciously or at pleasure. Without adequate determining principle; not founded in the nature of things; nonrational; not done or acting according to reason or judgment; depending on the will alone;… … Black's law dictionary
arbitrary — adjective /ˈɑːbɪtrəri,ˈɑːrbɪtrɛri/ a) Based on individual discretion or judgment; not based on any objective distinction, perhaps even made at random. Benjamin Franklins designation of positive and negative to different charges was arbitrary. In… … Wiktionary
arbitrary — /ˈabətrəri / (say ahbuhtruhree), /ˈabətri / (say ahbuhtree) adjective 1. subject to individual will or judgement; discretionary. 2. not attributable to any rule or law; accidental: *the only significance her smile could have had was that of an… …
Arbitrary, capricious and unreasonable — is a legal concept in American jurisprudence.In the State of New York it is one of the legal grounds under which a government official s official action may be challenged in the state court of law under Article 78 of the Civil Practice Law and… … Wikipedia
arbitrary — [är′bə trer΄ē] adj. [L arbitrarius < arbiter, ARBITER] 1. not fixed by rules, but left to one s judgment or choice; discretionary [arbitrary decision, arbitrary judgment] 2. based on one s preference, notion, whim, etc.; capricious [young… … English World dictionary
capricious — [adj] given to sudden behavior change any way the wind blows*, arbitrary, blowing hot and cold*, careless, changeful, contrary, crotchety, effervescent, erratic, every which way*, fanciful, fickle, fitful, flaky*, flighty, freakish, gaga*, helter … New thesaurus