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Joined: Mar 2004
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stranger
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stranger
Joined: Mar 2004
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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?
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Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 508
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addict
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Welcome aBoard, slopedome. I always thought the noun form was arbitrariness; never heard/seen arbitrarity. Anyone?
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Carpal Tunnel
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Carpal Tunnel
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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.
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stranger
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stranger
Joined: Mar 2004
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It occurred to me that maybe others and myself were just generalizing the contrary-contrariety relationship.
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Carpal Tunnel
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Carpal Tunnel
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sounds like someone is playing arbitratrix... but not very often... 
formerly known as etaoin...
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Carpal Tunnel
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Carpal Tunnel
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contrariety and contrariness come up about equally via google; but...
arbitrariness > 123,000
arbitrarity > 559
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Carpal Tunnel
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Carpal Tunnel
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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
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Joined: Feb 2004
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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
Rev. Alimae
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Doesn’t the English language cause one to stop and say HU?
HU. "Heavens Ubove"????
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Carpal Tunnel
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Carpal Tunnel
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Kai-Sheng Hu. He played first base for the 1887 Abbotton Base Ball Club.
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Please excuse my mis-spell. I ment huh.
Rev. Alimae
Rev. Alimae
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Carpal Tunnel
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Carpal Tunnel
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someone is playing arbitratrix
I dated a girl in college who play arbitratrix. I didn't much enjoy the music but she had a highly developed embouchure.
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