aleatory

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The word aleatory, whether used in its original and limited sense, or in its derived extension as a technical term of the civil law, was appropriate and convenient; one especially likely to be remembered by any person who had read Mr. Sumner's speech,--and everybody had read it; the secretary himself doubtless got the suggestion of determining the question "by lot" from it.

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Definitions (8)

Toggle American Heritage definitions American Heritage Dictionary (3)

  1. adjective Dependent on chance, luck, or an uncertain outcome: an aleatory contract between an oil prospector and a landowner.
  2. adjective Of or characterized by gambling: aleatory contests.
  3. adjective Music Using or consisting of sounds to be chosen by the performer or left to chance; indeterminate: An object placed inside the piano added an aleatory element to the piece.

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Examples (50)

  • The word aleatory, whether used in its original and limited sense, or in its derived extension as a technical term of the civil law, was appropriate and convenient; one especially likely to be remembered by any person who had read Mr. Sumner's speech,—and everybody had read it; the secretary himself doubtless got the suggestion of determining the question "by lot" from it. —  The Memoir of John Lothrop Motley
  • As a filmmaker friend once explained to me (while we were watching another student's project, in which Tchaikovsky's Romeo and Juliet was the soundtrack to a series of related but aleatory visual scenes): "The film is explaining how the music works". —  On An Overgrown Path
  • Our love of the aleatory, of betting our belongings, our powers, our persons even, against life, is not commonly alive in Germany. —  Germany and the Germans From an American Point of View
  • The word aleatory, whether used in its original and limited sense, or in its derived extension as a technical term of the civil law, was appropriate and convenient; one especially likely to be remembered by any person who had read Mr. Sumner's speech,--and everybody had read it; the secretary himself doubtless got the suggestion of determining the question "by lot" from it. —  PG Edition of Netherlands series — Complete
  • The aleatory, whether it touch life, or fortune, or renown--whether we explore Africa or only toss for halfpence--that is what I conceive men to love best, and that is what we are seeking to exclude from men's existences. —  Lay Morals
 

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Etymologies (2)

Toggle American Heritage etymologies American Heritage Dictionary (1)

  1. Latin āleātōrius, from āleātor, gambler, from ālea, game of chance, die.

Toggle Century etymologies Century Dictionary (1)

  1. from Latin aleatorius, pertaining to a gamester or to gaming, from aleator, a gamester, a player with dice, from alea, a game with dice.
 

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/ˈeɪləətəri/
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