Lands are said to be in a state of aration when they are under tillage.
Brande.
Ar"a*to*ry (&?;), a. [LL. aratorius: cf. F. aratoire.] Contributing to tillage.
||Ar`au*ca"ri*a (&?;), n. [Araucania, a territory south of Chili.] (Bot.) A genus of tall conifers of the pine family. The species are confined mostly to South America and Australia. The wood cells differ from those of other in having the dots in their lateral surfaces in two or three rows, and the dots of contiguous rows alternating. The seeds are edible.
Ar`au*ca"ri*an (&?;), a. Relating to, or of the nature of, the Araucaria. The earliest conifers in geological history were mostly Araucarian. Dana.
{ Ar"ba*lest (&?;), Ar"ba*list (&?;), } n. [OF. arbaleste, LL. arbalista, for L. arcuballista; arcus bow + ballista a military engine. See Ballista.] (Antiq.) A crossbow, consisting of a steel bow set in a shaft of wood, furnished with a string and a trigger, and a mechanical device for bending the bow. It served to throw arrows, darts, bullets, etc. [Written also arbalet and arblast.] Fosbroke.
{ Ar"ba*lest`er (&?;), Ar"ba*list`er (&?;), } n. [OF. arblastere, OF. arbalestier. See Arbalest.] A crossbowman. [Obs.] Speed.
Ar"bi*ter (&?;), n. [L. arbiter; ar- (for ad) + the root of betere to go; hence properly, one who comes up to look on.] 1. A person appointed, or chosen, by parties to determine a controversy between them.
In modern usage, arbitrator is the technical word.
2. Any person who has the power of judging and determining, or ordaining, without control; one whose power of deciding and governing is not limited.
For Jove is arbiter of both to man.
Cowper.
Syn. -- Arbitrator; umpire; director; referee; controller; ruler; governor.