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. [ 1913 Webster ]

☞ In modern usage, arbitrator is the technical word. [ 1913 Webster ]

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. [ 1913 Webster ]

For Jove is arbiter of both to man. Cowper. [ 1913 Webster ]

Syn. -- Arbitrator; umpire; director; referee; controller; ruler; governor. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. To act as arbiter between. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

n. One who backbites; a secret calumniator or detractor. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. 1. One who, or that which, bites; that which bites often, or is inclined to bite, as a dog or fish. “Great barkers are no biters.” Camden. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. One who cheats; a sharper. [ Colloq. ] Spectator. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ Pref. bi- + ternate. ] (Bot.) Doubly ternate, as when a petiole has three ternate leaflets. -- Bi*ter"nate*ly, adv. Gray. [1913 Webster]

n. A cohabitant. Hobbes. [ 1913 Webster ]

{ , n. A horse that has the habit of cribbing. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ Cf. Exhibitor. ] One who exhibits; one who presents a petition, charge or bill. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. An inhabitant. [ R. ] Derham. [ 1913 Webster ]

‖adv. [ L., on the way; ob (see Ob-) + iter a going, a walk, way. ] In passing; incidentally; by the way. [ 1913 Webster ]

n.; pl. obiter dicta (Law), An incidental and collateral opinion uttered by a judge. See Dictum, n., 2 (a). [ 1913 Webster ]

n. (Zool.) The cow blackbird. [ Local, U. S. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

n. One who prohibits or forbids; a forbidder; an interdicter. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. One who practices petty thefts. [ Obs. ] Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

There are political sheepbiters as well as pastoral; betrayers of public trusts as well as of private. L'Estrange. [ 1913 Webster ]