arbitrer

Forms

arbitrer^[1]

Etymology

It is borrowed from Latin arbitror (“to judge, decide”),^{[2][3][4][5][1][6]} from arbiter (“judge, arbiter”).^[2] The Wiktionnaire treats it instead as a derivative of arbitre.^[7] Littré also derives it from the French noun.^[8]

Cognate with Old Occitan arbitrar, Spanish arbitrar and Italian arbitrare.^[8]

Earliest recorded meaning

It is recorded from 1274, linked to the legal sense of arbitre.^[2][5] In 1378 a Reims document speaks of a fine arbitree at eight pounds, that is, fixed by judgement.^[8] In Anglo-Norman it is found from about 1292, meaning “to arbitrate, decide a dispute”.^[9]

Semantic evolution

In Middle French it meant both to settle a matter as arbitrator and to fix a sum or a fine by arbitration.^[10] Littré gives the sense “to estimate, settle, judge as an arbitrator”, as in setting expenses or damages.^[8] Like arbitre, it later specialised in sport: arbitrer un match is recorded from 1901, while in finance it followed arbitrage and appears in the dictionaries from 1922.^[5][4] Rey notes that the derivative arbitrager shows that arbitrer is not usual in the financial sense.^[5] The verb has given arbitrage (1283) and arbitrable (1866).^[5]

Timeline

• 1274 – First record.^[2][3][5]
• c. 1292 – Recorded in Anglo-Norman.^[9]
• 1378 – A fine is arbitree at eight pounds in a Reims document.^[8]
• 16th century – Amyot uses it for judging between claims.^[8]
• 1901 – First record in sport, arbitrer un match.^[5][4]
• 1922 – The financial sense appears in dictionaries.^[5][4]

Meanings

Verb

1. To decide or settle as an arbitre, to arbitrate: arbitrer un différend, arbitrer un litige.^[4][3][11]
2. To give a ruling in the dispute between two parties: arbitrer des personnes.^[4][11]
3. (sport) To referee a match or competition, as in Elle arbitrera la finale de la coupe.^[4][11][3]
4. (finance) To carry out an arbitrage on securities or goods.^[4]
5. To decide in the last resort, to set the norm (of a group, a party or taste).^[11][3]
6. (dated) To fix or assess a sum by judgement: arbitrer une dépense.^[8][11]

Word family

• arbitrage

Related words

• arbitre

References

1. ^ a b c Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
2. ^ a b c d Rey, Alain, ed. (2005), Le Grand Robert de la langue française, electronic version, Paris: Le Robert
3. ^ a b c d e Guilbert, Louis; Lagane, René; Niobey, Georges, eds. (1971–1978; 1989), Grand Larousse de la langue française, Paris: Larousse
4. ^ a b c d e f g h Rey-Debove, Josette; Rey, Alain, eds. (2007), Le Petit Robert de la langue française, Paris: Le Robert
5. ^ a b c d e f g h Rey, Alain, ed. (1992), Dictionnaire historique de la langue française, Paris: Le Robert
6. ^ Wartburg, Walther von, et al. (1922–2002), Französisches Etymologisches Wörterbuch, 25 vols., Bonn / Leipzig / Basel: Klopp / Teubner / Zbinden, p. 25, 86b
7. ^ Wiktionnaire (French Wiktionary), fr.wiktionary.org
8. ^ a b c d e f g Littré, Émile (1873–1877), Dictionnaire de la langue française, 4 vols. and supplement, Paris: Hachette
9. ^ a b Anglo-Norman Dictionary (AND2), Aberystwyth University, anglo-norman.net (2nd ed., 2005–)
10. ^ Dictionnaire du Moyen Français, version 2015 (DMF 2015), ATILF – CNRS & Université de Lorraine, atilf.fr/dmf
11. ^ a b c d e Trésor de la langue française informatisé (2004), ATILF – CNRS & Université de Lorraine, atilf.fr/tlfi; electronic version of Imbs, Paul; Quemada, Bernard, eds. (1971–1994), Trésor de la langue française, Paris: CNRS / Gallimard