Hypertext Webster Gateway: "random"

From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) (web1913)

Random \Ran"dom\, a.
Going at random or by chance; done or made at hazard, or
without settled direction, aim, or purpose; hazarded without
previous calculation; left to chance; haphazard; as, a random
guess.

Some random truths he can impart. --Wordsworth.

So sharp a spur to the lazy, and so strong a bridle to
the random. --H. Spencer.

{Random courses} (Masonry), courses of unequal thickness.

{Random shot}, a shot not directed or aimed toward any
particular object, or a shot with the muzzle of the gun
much elevated.

{Random work} (Masonry), stonework consisting of stones of
unequal sizes fitted together, but not in courses nor
always with flat beds.

From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) (web1913)

Random \Ran"dom\, n. [OE. randon, OF. randon force, violence,
rapidity, a randon, de randon, violently, suddenly, rapidly,
prob. of German origin; cf. G. rand edge, border, OHG. rant
shield, edge of a shield, akin to E. rand, n. See {Rand}, n.]
1. Force; violence. [Obs.]

For courageously the two kings newly fought with
great random and force. --E. Hall.

2. A roving motion; course without definite direction; want
of direction, rule, or method; hazard; chance; -- commonly
used in the phrase at random, that is, without a settled
point of direction; at hazard.

Counsels, when they fly At random, sometimes hit
most happily. --Herrick.

O, many a shaft, at random sent, Finds mark the
archer little meant ! --Sir W.
Scott.

3. Distance to which a missile is cast; range; reach; as, the
random of a rifle ball. --Sir K. Digby.

4. (Mining) The direction of a rake-vein. --Raymond.

From WordNet (r) 1.7 (wn)

random
adj 1: lacking any definite plan or order or purpose; governed by
or depending on chance; "a random choice"; "bombs fell
at random"; "random movements" [ant: {nonrandom}]
2: taken haphazardly; "a random choice"


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