arbiter

Meanings

Noun

• A person appointed, or chosen, by parties to determine a controversy between them; an arbitrator.
• A person or object having the power of judging and determining, or ordaining, without control; one whose power of deciding and governing is not limited.
• A component in circuitry that allocates scarce resources.

Verb

• To act as arbiter.

Origin

• From Old French arbitre, from Latin arbiter ("a witness, judge, literally one who goes to see").