arbiter
NounUS[ahr-bih-ter]/ˈɑrbɪtɚ/3 syllables
Open English WordNet
Noun (2)
- someone with the power to settle matters at will“she was the final arbiter on all matters of fashion”Synonyms: supreme authorityType of expert
- someone chosen to judge and decide a disputed issue“the critic was considered to be an arbiter of modern literature”“the arbitrator's authority derived from the consent of the disputants”“an umpire was appointed to settle the tax case”Synonyms: arbitratorumpireType of evaluator, judgeKinds third party
Word of the day · Oct 17About this word
ephemeranoun
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Webster's Dictionary (1913)
Ar′bi·ter (…), noun
Origin: L. arbiter; ar- (for ad) + the root of betere to go; hence properly, one who comes up to look on.
1. A person appointed, or chosen, by parties to determine a controversy between them.
☞ In modern usage, arbitrator is the technical word.
2. Any person who has the power of judging and determining, or ordaining, without control; one whose power of deciding and governing is not limited.
For Jove is arbiter of both to man.— William Cowper
Synonyms: Arbitrator; umpire; director; referee; controller; ruler; governor.
Ar′bi·ter transitive verb
To act as arbiter between. obsolete
Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913), from GCIDE 0.54