Lewis & Short

arbī̆trĭum (in good MSS. and inscrr. sometimes arbī̆tērĭum), ii, n. [from arbiter, as adulterium from adulter]. In gen., a coming near, a being present, presence; hence meton. for persons present (only in post-Aug. poets): locus ab omni liber arbitrio. Sen. Hippol. 602, and id. Herc. Oet. 485: divina rerum cura sine arbitrio est, Auct. Aetnae, 195.

  • II. Esp.
    1. A.
      1. 1. The judgment, decision of an arbitrator (cf. arbiter, II.: arbitrium dicitur sententia, quae ab arbitro statuitur, Paul. ex Fest. p. 13 Müll.): aliud est judicium, aliud arbitrium. Judicium est pecuniae certae: arbitrium incertae, Cic. Rosc. Com. 4: Q. Scaevola summam vim dicebat esse in omnibus iis arbitriis, in quibus adderetur ex fide bonā, id. Off. 3, 17, 70; so, arbitrium rei uxoriae, id. ib. 3, 15; id. Top. 17, 66; cf. Dig. 24, 3, 66 fin.; 46, 3, 82 fin.; Cic. Rosc. Com. 9: arbitrium pro socio condemnari solerent, id. Quinct. 4, 13 B. and K. (here some consider arbitrium as a gloss, others read arbitrio, ad arbitrium, ad arbitrum, and the like; v. Orell. ad h. l.).
        1. 2. Transf. from the sphere of judic. proceedings, judgment, opinion, decision: arbitrium vestrum, vestra existimatio Valebit, Ter. Heaut. prol. 25: cum de te splendida Minos Fecerit arbitria, Hor. C. 4, 7, 21: de aliquo arbitria agere, Liv. 24, 45: arbitria belli pacisque agere, id. 44, 15; cf. Tac. A. 12, 60: agere arbitria victoriae, Curt. 6, 1 fin.; cf. Gron. Observ. 4, c. 11, p. 427, and Liv. 31, 11; 32, 37.
          Trop.: res ab opinionis arbitrio sejunctae, matters, in which nothing is decided according to mere opinion, Cic. de Or. 1, 23, 108: si volet usus, Quem penes arbitrium est et jus et norma loquendi, Hor. A. P. 72; Sen. Clem. 2, 7: arbitrio consilioque uti auris, to determine by the ear, Gell. 13, 20, 3.
      2. B. Mastery, dominion, authority, power, will, free-will: dedunt se In ditionem atque in arbitrium cuncti Thebano poplo, Plaut. Am. 1, 1, 103 (Fleck., arbitratum): esse in pectore nostro quiddam, Cujus ad arbitrium quoque copia materiaiï Cogitur interdum flecti per membra, per artus, and at whose bidding the accumulated materials must yield obedience in every joint and limb, * Lucr. 2, 281: cujus (Jovis) nutu et arbitrio caelum, terra mariaque reguntur, Cic. Rosc. Am. 45, 131: ad alicujus arbitrium et nutum totum se fingere et adcommodare, id. Or. 8, 24; id. Verr. 1, 10, 30; 2, 5, 63 fin.; so Vulg. Lev. 13, 3; 13, 44: aliquid facere arbitrio suo, Cic. Phil. 6, 2: Mentes ad suum arbitrium movere, id. de Or. 2, 16, 70; so id. Par. 5, 1 fin.: quam (pecuniam) sponte et arbitrio cordis sui inferunt, Vulg. 4 Reg. 12, 4: vixit ad aliorum arbitrium, non ad suum, Cic. Mur. 9; so Hor. C. 3, 6, 40; 3, 2, 20; Tac. H. 1, 46; Suet. Caes. 9; 20; id. Aug. 28; id. Tit. 8; id. Galb. 14: in arbitrium vestrum diem constituistis ei, Vulg. Judith, 8, 13: orationem tibi misi: ejus custodiendae et proferendae arbitrium tuum, Cic. Att. 15, 13: munificentiam eorum in se ipsorum arbitrii debere esse, Liv. 37, 52: in arbitrio viri erit, ut faciat sive non faciat, Vulg. Num. 30, 14: tamquam congruere operationem eam serpentium humani sit arbitrī, Plin. 29, 3, 12, § 53; Suet. Tib. 18; id. Claud. 2: mox rei Romanae arbitrium (i. e. imperium, dominion, power) tribus ferme et viginti (annis) obtinuit, Tac. A. 6, 51; so, arbitrium orbis terrarum, Suet. Caes. 7; Nep. Con. 4, 1: huic deus optandi gratum, sed inutile fecit Muneris arbitrium, Ov. M. 11, 101: liberum mortis arbitrium, Suet. Dom. 8; 11; cf. Tac. A. 15, 60.
      3. C. Arbitria funeris, the expenses of a funeral (fixed by an arbiter), Cic. Dom. 37; id. Pis. 9 fin.; id. Red. in Sen. 7; cf. Dig. 11, 7, 12, § 6.