arbitrate, v.
(ˈɑːbɪtreɪt)
[f. L. arbitrāt- ppl. stem of arbitrā-ri to examine, give judgement, f. arbiter: see arbiter and -ate. Cf. earlier arbitre, through Fr.]
1. gen. (intr. or with subord. clause.) To give an authoritative decision, to decide. Obs. or arch.
| 1590 Swinburn Testaments 41 He did arbitrate and awarde, that..the cooke should bee recompensed. 1641 Milton Ch. Govt. vi. (1851) 124 Let all impartial men arbitrate what goodly inference these two maine reasons..have. 1692 South 12 Serm. (1697) I. 18 The mind..with an universal Superintendence, arbitrates..upon them all. |
2. trans. To give an authoritative decision with regard to, decide, determine. arch.
| 1605 Shakes. Macb. v. iv. 20 But certaine issue stroakes must arbitrate. 1631 J. Taylor (Water P.) Fortune's Wheele 13 Now swordes, not wordes, doe kingdoms arbitrate. a 1677 Barrow Serm. (1716) I. 6 Things must be compared to and arbitrated by her standard. 1785 Cowper Task ii. 600 The sycophant That waits to dress us, arbitrates their date. 1872 Tennyson Last Tourn. 104 But thou, Sir Lancelot, sitting in my place Enchair'd to-morrow, arbitrate the field. |
b. To judge of. (J.)
| 1637 Milton Comus 411 An equal poise of hope and fear Does arbitrate the event. |
3. intr. To act as formal arbitrator or umpire, to mediate (in a dispute, between contending parties).
| 1619 Sanderson Serms. Ad. Cler. i. (1674) 2 The blessed Apostle..taketh upon him to arbitrate and to mediate in the business. 1806 Wellington in Wellesley Disp. (1877) App. 97 Offers to arbitrate in the Mahratta claims. 1849 Macaulay Hist. Eng. II. 3 He must relinquish all thought of arbitrating between contending nations. |
4. trans. To settle by, or submit to, arbitration.
| 1592 Shakes. Rom. & Jul. iv. i. 63 Twixt my extreames and me, this bloody knife Shall play the vmpeere, arbitrating that, Which, etc. 1647 D. Digges Unlawf. Taking Arms iv. 153 Let them arbitrate the differences. 1803 Wellesley Disp. (1877) 300 To arbitrate..the terms of accommodation between Scindiah and Holkar. 1861 Bright America, Sp. 4 Dec. (1876) 98 Government may discuss this matter, they may arrange it, they may arbitrate it. |