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arbitrate

[ahr-bi-treyt]
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verb (used with object), ar·bi·trat·ed, ar·bi·trat·ing.
  1. to decide as arbitrator or arbiter; determine.
  2. to submit to arbitration; settle by arbitration: to arbitrate a dispute.
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verb (used without object), ar·bi·trat·ed, ar·bi·trat·ing.
  1. to act as arbitrator or arbiter; decide between opposing or contending parties or sides.
  2. to submit a matter to arbitration.
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Origin of arbitrate

1580–90; < Latin arbitrātus decided, judged (past participle of arbitrārī), equivalent to arbit(e)r arbiter + -ātus -ate1
Related formsar·bi·tra·tive, adjectivere·ar·bi·trate, verb, re·ar·bi·trat·ed, re·ar·bi·trat·ing.un·ar·bi·trat·ed, adjectiveun·ar·bi·tra·tive, adjectivewell-ar·bi·trat·ed, adjective
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018

Related Words

mediateinterveneinterposeadjudicateadjustreconcilerefereeparleyconciliateplacatesmoothnegotiatesoothedeterminesettledecidejudgeadjudgeumpire

Examples from the Web for arbitrated

Historical Examples

  • Disputes can not be arbitrated out by other people for them.

    The Ghost in the White House

    Gerald Stanley Lee

  • I appreciate that some questions are not justiciable and cannot be arbitrated.

  • For two weeks they studied, debated, and arbitrated the list of guests.

    Babbitt

    Sinclair Lewis

  • Had that belief not been widely spread and firmly maintained, the lords who arbitrated between Henry VI.

  • And it is a fortunate thing that between them few "Questions" remain to be arbitrated either by pen or sword.

British Dictionary definitions for arbitrated

arbitrate

verb
  1. to settle or decide (a dispute); achieve a settlement between parties
  2. to submit to or settle by arbitration
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Derived Formsarbitrable, adjectivearbitrator, noun

Word Origin

C16: from Latin arbitrāri to give judgment; see arbiter
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Word Origin and History for arbitrated

arbitrate

v.

1580s (arbitrable is recorded from 1530s), "to give an authoritative decision," from Latin arbitratus, past participle of arbitrari "be of an opinion, give a decision," from arbiter (see arbiter). Meaning "to act as an arbitrator" is from 1610s. Related: Arbitrated; arbitrating. The earlier verb form was arbitren (early 15c.).

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Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper