arbiter

Definition

A person appointed, or chosen, by parties to determine a controversy between them; an arbitrator.

Etymology

From Middle English arbiter, arbytour, arbitre, from Old French arbitre, from Latin arbiter (“a witness, judge, literally one who goes to see”).

Example Sentences

• "In order to protect individual liberty there must be an arbiter between the governing powers and the governed."
• "Television and film, not Vogue and similar magazines, are the arbiters of fashion."
• "The grapholect of Standard English is not the exclusive system that arbiters of cultural purity wish to 'correct' us into believing"

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