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Previous Thread Next Thread Print Thread arbitrarity #125481 03/19/2004 6:21 PM Joined: Mar 2004 Posts: 2 slopedome stranger slopedome stranger Joined: Mar 2004 Posts: 2 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? Copy Link to Clipboard Share Post on Facebook Share Post on Twitter Re: arbitrarity #125482 03/19/2004 6:30 PM Joined: Mar 2001 Posts: 508 Metro Detroit (MI) nancyk addict nancyk addict Joined: Mar 2001 Posts: 508 Metro Detroit (MI) Welcome aBoard, slopedome. I always thought the noun form was arbitrariness; never heard/seen arbitrarity. Anyone? Copy Link to Clipboard Share Post on Facebook Share Post on Twitter Re: arbitrarity #125483 03/19/2004 6:30 PM Joined: Apr 2000 Posts: 10,542 this too shall pass tsuwm Carpal Tunnel tsuwm Carpal Tunnel Joined: Apr 2000 Posts: 10,542 this too shall pass 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. Copy Link to Clipboard Share Post on Facebook Share Post on Twitter Re: arbitrarity #125484 03/19/2004 6:39 PM Joined: Mar 2004 Posts: 2 slopedome stranger slopedome stranger Joined: Mar 2004 Posts: 2 It occurred to me that maybe others and myself were just generalizing the contrary-contrariety relationship. Copy Link to Clipboard Share Post on Facebook Share Post on Twitter Re: arbitrarity #125485 03/19/2004 6:50 PM Joined: Jun 2002 Posts: 7,210 Vermont Buffalo Shrdlu Carpal Tunnel Buffalo Shrdlu Carpal Tunnel Joined: Jun 2002 Posts: 7,210 Vermont sounds like someone is playing arbitratrix... but not very often... formerly known as etaoin... Copy Link to Clipboard Share Post on Facebook Share Post on Twitter Re: arbitrarity #125486 03/19/2004 6:50 PM Joined: Apr 2000 Posts: 10,542 this too shall pass tsuwm Carpal Tunnel tsuwm Carpal Tunnel Joined: Apr 2000 Posts: 10,542 this too shall pass contrariety and contrariness come up about equally via google; but... arbitrariness > 123,000 arbitrarity > 559 Copy Link to Clipboard Share Post on Facebook Share Post on Twitter Re: arbitrarity #125487 03/19/2004 7:10 PM Joined: Dec 2000 Posts: 13,803 Faldage Carpal Tunnel Faldage Carpal Tunnel Joined: Dec 2000 Posts: 13,803 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 Copy Link to Clipboard Share Post on Facebook Share Post on Twitter Re: arbitrarity #125488 03/19/2004 8:44 PM Joined: Feb 2004 Posts: 164 Mississippi, United States Of ... AlimaeHP member AlimaeHP member Joined: Feb 2004 Posts: 164 Mississippi, United States Of ... 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 Copy Link to Clipboard Share Post on Facebook Share Post on Twitter Re: arbitrarity #125489 03/19/2004 8:49 PM Joined: Nov 2003 Posts: 619 Carpal Tunnel Country grapho addict grapho addict Joined: Nov 2003 Posts: 619 Carpal Tunnel Country Doesn’t the English language cause one to stop and say HU? HU. "Heavens Ubove"???? Copy Link to Clipboard Share Post on Facebook Share Post on Twitter Re: HU's on first #125490 03/19/2004 8:53 PM Joined: Dec 2000 Posts: 13,803 Faldage Carpal Tunnel Faldage Carpal Tunnel Joined: Dec 2000 Posts: 13,803 Kai-Sheng Hu. He played first base for the 1887 Abbotton Base Ball Club. Copy Link to Clipboard Share Post on Facebook Share Post on Twitter Re: HU's on first #125491 03/19/2004 10:57 PM Joined: Feb 2004 Posts: 164 Mississippi, United States Of ... AlimaeHP member AlimaeHP member Joined: Feb 2004 Posts: 164 Mississippi, United States Of ... Please excuse my mis-spell. I ment huh. Rev. Alimae Rev. Alimae Copy Link to Clipboard Share Post on Facebook Share Post on Twitter Re: arbitrarity #125492 03/20/2004 12:09 AM Joined: Sep 2000 Posts: 2,788 Seattle, Washington, USA Father Steve Carpal Tunnel Father Steve Carpal Tunnel Joined: Sep 2000 Posts: 2,788 Seattle, Washington, USA 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. Copy Link to Clipboard Share Post on Facebook Share Post on Twitter Moderated by  Jackie  Hop To General Topics ------  Information and announcements  Q&A about words  Wordplay and fun  Words and languages in schools  Miscellany  Weekly Themes  Looking for (writers, speakers,... (Old) Weekly themes. 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