Crossword Dictionary

What's The Definition Of 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.
\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.