aleatory
Americanadjective
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Law. depending on a contingent event.
an aleatory contract.
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of or relating to accidental causes; of luck or chance; unpredictable.
an aleatory element.
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Music. employing the element of chance in the choice of tones, rests, durations, rhythms, dynamics, etc.
adjective
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dependent on chance
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(esp of a musical composition) involving elements chosen at random by the performer
Etymology
Origin of aleatory
1685–95; < Latin āleātōrius, equivalent to āleātōr- (stem of āleātor gambler ( āle ( a ) game of chance + -ātor -ator ) + -ius adj. suffix; -tory 1
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
First, we led him through an “aleatory music” session in which he had to use a cheese grater to produce sounds.
From New York Times
The team is now researching perceptions of aleatory uncertainty — unknowns about the future due to randomness, indeterminacy, chance or luck.
From New York Times
The tonal lurching makes “Cardinal” feel whimsical and even a bit aleatory, like a John Cage sonata.
From New York Times
As he develops the project, he is likely to grow more comfortable and grounded in the aleatory digital space he’s created.
From New York Times
As a generation from whom little was expected, we cultivated an aleatory, “slacker” ethos—well depicted in Richard Linklater’s film of the same name.
From Salon
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
