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#125481 03/19/04 06:21 PM
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I used the word 'arbitrarity,' and, in my usual fashion, looked it up to check the spelling & usage. It wasn't there! Merriam-Webster Unabridged Online doesn't mention any such variation of the word 'arbitrary.' However, when I searched google for the word, I could see that its use is widespread (and not just as a misspelled 'arbitrarily'). Any one know the scoop on this word? Is it just a common mistake, or is the dictionary missing something?


#125482 03/19/04 06:30 PM
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Welcome aBoard, slopedome. I always thought the noun form was arbitrariness; never heard/seen arbitrarity. Anyone?


#125483 03/19/04 06:30 PM
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this "word" is not to be found at all in OED2. the usual form for the 'quality of being arbitrary' is arbitrariness, or (if you're being really arbitrary) arbitrariousness.


#125484 03/19/04 06:39 PM
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It occurred to me that maybe others and myself were just generalizing the contrary-contrariety relationship.


#125485 03/19/04 06:50 PM
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sounds like someone is playing arbitratrix... but not very often...




formerly known as etaoin...
#125486 03/19/04 06:50 PM
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contrariety and contrariness come up about equally via google; but...
arbitrariness > 123,000
arbitrarity > 559


#125487 03/19/04 07:10 PM
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contrariety and contrariness come up about equally via google; but...

they don't appear to mean the same thing.

Per onelook

contrariness:
deliberate unruliness or a fussy and eccentric disposition

contrariety:
the relation between contraries


#125488 03/19/04 08:44 PM
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This form of the word arbitrary is a common misconception. We would normally think that in order to change the word from its adjective form of arbitrary to a noun form of arbitrarity than we would add the ity. In all reality though the correct suffix would be of -ness making the noun form arbitraryness , which would mean: no discernible similarity of signal and meaning.

Hopefully this helps.
Doesn’t the English language cause one to stop and say HU?

Rev. Alimae


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#125489 03/19/04 08:49 PM
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Doesn’t the English language cause one to stop and say HU?

HU. "Heavens Ubove"????




#125490 03/19/04 08:53 PM
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Kai-Sheng Hu. He played first base for the 1887 Abbotton Base Ball Club.


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