aleatory

[ ey-lee-uh-tawr-ee, -tohr-ee, al-ee- ]
/ ˈeɪ li əˌtɔr i, -ˌtoʊr i, ˈæl i- /
SEE SYNONYMS FOR aleatory ON THESAURUS.COM

adjective

Law. depending on a contingent event: an aleatory contract.
of or relating to accidental causes; of luck or chance; unpredictable: an aleatory element.
Music. employing the element of chance in the choice of tones, rests, durations, rhythms, dynamics, etc.
Also a·le·a·tor·ic [ey-lee-uh-tawr-ik, -tor-, al-ee-] /ˌeɪ li əˈtɔr ɪk, -ˈtɒr-, ˌæl i-/.

Origin of aleatory

1685–95; < Latin āleātōrius, equivalent to āleātōr- (stem of āleātor gambler ( āle(a) game of chance + -ātor -ator) + -ius adj. suffix; see -tory1

Words nearby aleatory

aldus manutius, ale, ale conner, alea, aleardi, aleatory, alebion, alec, alecithal, aleck, alecost

Words related to aleatory

unintended, unexpected, accidental, impromptu, random, unintentional, haphazard, spontaneous, adventitious, fortuitous, undesigned

Example sentences from the Web for aleatory

British Dictionary definitions for aleatory

aleatory

aleatoric (ˌeɪlɪəˈtɒrɪk)

/ (ˈeɪlɪətərɪ, -trɪ) /

adjective

dependent on chance
(esp of a musical composition) involving elements chosen at random by the performer

Word Origin for aleatory

C17: from Latin āleātōrius, from āleātor gambler, from ālea game of chance, dice, of uncertain origin