Plural of arbitrary or instances of arbitrary actions; things done without principle, reason, or system, decided by random choice or personal whim.
From Latin 'arbitrarius' (dependent on choice), derived from 'arbiter.' The word shifted from meaning 'dependent on judgment' to 'capricious or random' over time.
A government that rules by 'arbitraries'—making random decisions with no consistent rules—is basically the opposite of the rule of law, which is why it's become a term for warning signs of tyranny.
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