---
title: arbitrary — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «arbitrary» in the school dictionary: Arbitrary means chosen by chance or by someone's wish, not for a good reason or rule. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# arbitrary

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** Arbitrary, someone, arbitrary number, you, rule, order · **What happens:** mean, choose, wish, be, pick, use · **To what, where:** number, Unfair power, arbitrary, names, arbitrary number, arbitrary punishment · **Speech:** someone speaks here

<!-- .vabout -->
«arbitrary» in the school dictionary: its 3 meanings for a pupil and its 6 examples, every sentence parsed by Mova itself — its syntax tree, a dependency tree in the style of Universal Dependencies, and its pragmatics clause by clause. The word in the dictionary, with its sense in the lessons: [arbitrary in the school dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/arbitrary.md).

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Arbitrary means chosen by chance or by someone's wish, not for a good reason or rule.

<!-- fold The tree, 17 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:arbitrary:m1:1
# text = Arbitrary means chosen by chance or by someone's wish, not for a good reason or rule.
1	Arbitrary	arbitrary	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	nsubj	_	_
2	means	mean	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	chosen	choose	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	2	ccomp	_	_
4	by	by	ADP	IN	_	5	case	_	_
5	chance	chance	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obl	_	_
6	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	10	cc	_	_
7	by	by	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
8	someone	someone	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	10	nmod:poss	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	's	's	PART	POS	_	8	case	_	_
10	wish	wish	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	16	punct	_	_
12	not	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	16	advmod	_	_
13	for	for	ADP	IN	_	16	case	_	_
14	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	16	det	_	_
15	good	good	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	16	amod	_	_
16	reason	reason	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	10	acl:relcl	_	_
17	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	18	cc	_	_
18	rule	rule	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	16	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
19	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **mean** | present | Arbitrary |  |  |  |  |  | vn intend-61.2-1 «NP V S»: agent=Agent clause=Topic |
| 2 | **choose** | participle |  |  |  |  |  | by chance or someone's wish | vn get-13.5.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent |
| 3 | **wish** |  | someone |  |  |  |  |  | nom wish «feeling intransitive»: poss=agent |

<!-- .note -->
One row per clause the reader finds. «not said here»: a role filled from the clause above. «roles by»: a VerbNet class and frame when one fits the verb, else the reader's rules on the tree.

## Meaning 2 {#m2}

<!-- .note -->
Usage: maths — kept apart, not parsed.

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
An arbitrary number is any number you pick, used to show a rule works for all.

<!-- fold The tree, 16 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:arbitrary:m2:1
# text = An arbitrary number is any number you pick, used to show a rule works for all.
1	An	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	arbitrary	arbitrary	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	compound	_	_
3	number	number	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nsubj	_	_
4	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	6	cop	_	_
5	any	any	DET	DT	PronType=Ind	6	det	_	_
6	number	number	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
7	you	you	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Person=2|PronType=Prs	8	nsubj	_	_
8	pick	pick	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=2|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	6	acl:relcl	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	10	punct	_	_
10	used	use	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	6	acl:relcl	_	_
11	to	to	PART	TO	_	12	mark	_	_
12	show	show	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	10	advcl	_	_
13	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	14	det	_	_
14	rule	rule	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	15	nsubj	_	_
15	works	work	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	12	ccomp	_	_
16	for	for	ADP	IN	_	17	case	_	_
17	all	all	DET	DT	PronType=Tot	15	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
18	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | a arbitrary number | any number |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **pick** | present | you | any number *not said here* |  |  |  |  | vn chew-39.2 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent number=Patient |
| 3 | **use** | participle |  | any number *not said here* |  |  |  |  | vn eat-39.1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |
| 4 | **show** | to-infinitive |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn transfer\_mesg-37.1.1-1-1 «NP V how S»: agent=Agent clause=Topic |
| 5 | **work** | present | a rule |  |  |  |  | for all | vn employment-95.3 «NP V PP.beneficiary»: agent=Agent for all=Beneficiary |

## Meaning 3 {#m3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Unfair power used without rules: an arbitrary punishment.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:arbitrary:m3:1
# text = Unfair power used without rules: an arbitrary punishment.
1	Unfair	unfair	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	2	amod	_	_
2	power	power	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
3	used	use	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	2	acl	_	_
4	without	without	ADP	IN	_	5	case	_	_
5	rules	rule	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	:	:	PUNCT	:	_	9	punct	_	_
7	an	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
8	arbitrary	arbitrary	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	9	amod	_	_
9	punishment	punishment	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **use** | participle |  | Unfair power and a arbitrary punishment *not said here* |  |  |  | without rules | vn eat-39.1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The order of the names was arbitrary.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:arbitrary:x1:1
# text = The order of the names was arbitrary.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	order	order	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	nsubj	_	_
3	of	of	ADP	IN	_	5	case	_	_
4	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	names	name	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	nmod	_	_
6	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	7	cop	_	_
7	arbitrary	arbitrary	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	7	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | past | the order of the names | arbitrary |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **order** |  |  | the names |  |  |  |  | nom order «communication transitive»: of=patient |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Pick an arbitrary number and double it.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:arbitrary:x2:1
# text = Pick an arbitrary number and double it.
1	Pick	pick	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
2	an	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
3	arbitrary	arbitrary	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	compound	_	_
4	number	number	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	1	obj	_	_
5	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	6	cc	_	_
6	double	double	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	1	conj	_	_
7	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	6	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	1	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **pick** | imperative | you *not said here* | a arbitrary number |  |  |  |  | vn chew-39.2 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent number=Patient |
| 2 | **double** | infinitive | you *not said here* | number |  |  |  |  | vn other\_cos-45.4 «NP V NP.patient»: agent=Agent it=Patient |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The rule seemed arbitrary to the pupils.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:arbitrary:x3:1
# text = The rule seemed arbitrary to the pupils.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	rule	rule	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	seemed	seem	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	arbitrary	arbitrary	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	_
5	to	to	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
6	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
7	pupils	pupil	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **seem** | past | the rule | arbitrary |  |  |  | to the pupils | vn seem-109-1-1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Theme arbitrary=Attribute |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
It was an arbitrary punishment with no warning.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:arbitrary:x4:1
# text = It was an arbitrary punishment with no warning.
1	It	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	5	nsubj	_	_
2	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	5	cop	_	_
3	an	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
4	arbitrary	arbitrary	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	5	amod	_	_
5	punishment	punishment	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
6	with	with	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
7	no	no	DET	DT	PronType=Neg	8	det	_	_
8	warning	warning	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | past | It | a arbitrary punishment |  |  |  | with no warning | tree rules |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The starting point on the line is arbitrary.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:arbitrary:x5:1
# text = The starting point on the line is arbitrary.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	starting	starting	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	compound	_	_
3	point	point	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	nsubj	_	_
4	on	on	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
5	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	line	line	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nmod	_	_
7	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	8	cop	_	_
8	arbitrary	arbitrary	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	8	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | present | the starting point on the line |  |  |  |  | arbitrary *property* | tree rules |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Giving prizes by height is arbitrary.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:arbitrary:x6:1
# text = Giving prizes by height is arbitrary.
1	Giving	give	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	6	csubj	_	_
2	prizes	prize	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	1	obj	_	_
3	by	by	ADP	IN	_	4	case	_	_
4	height	height	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	1	obl	_	_
5	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	6	cop	_	_
6	arbitrary	arbitrary	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **give** | gerund |  | prizes |  |  |  | by height | vn give-13.1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent prize=Theme |
| 2 | **is a** | present | Giving | arbitrary |  |  |  |  | tree rules |

<!-- div src -->

**Text:** the school dictionary of Mova's schools (`world/data/dictionary-schools/`), written for Mova. **Trees:** Mova's own parse — the `en` model on the CPU, when the site is built — not checked by a teacher; they may be wrong. **Frames:** Mova's frames reader (`prag`), each meaning and example read on its own. Elamur Cosmic License.

<!-- /div -->

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