aleatory

[ ey-lee-uh-tawr-ee, -tohr-ee, al-ee- ]

adjective

1. Law. depending on a contingent event:

   an aleatory contract.

2. of or relating to accidental causes; of luck or chance; unpredictable:

   an aleatory element.

3. Music. employing the element of chance in the choice of tones, rests, durations, rhythms, dynamics, etc.

aleatory

/ -trɪ; ˌeɪlɪəˈtɒrɪk; ˈeɪlɪətərɪ /

adjective

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

Word History and Origins

Origin of aleatory¹

1685–95; < Latin āleātōrius, equivalent to āleātōr- (stem of āleātor gambler ( āle ( a ) game of chance + -ātor -ator ) + -ius adj. suffix; -tory ¹

Word History and Origins

Origin of aleatory¹

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

Example Sentences

That’s true of Silverman’s comedy in general, built as it is on apparently aleatory mismatches of tone and content.

From New York Times

The songs or song particles that survived this almost aleatory process were assigned to seven performers — all female or nonbinary and sitting glumly on stools — in kaleidoscopic shufflings that prevented the creation of any sustained characterization.

From New York Times

First, we led him through an “aleatory music” session in which he had to use a cheese grater to produce sounds.

From New York Times

The team is now researching perceptions of aleatory uncertainty — unknowns about the future due to randomness, indeterminacy, chance or luck.

From New York Times

Most uncertainty is a mix of epistemic and aleatory elements.

From New York Times

Related Words

• accidental
• haphazard
• impromptu
• random
• spontaneous
• unexpected
• unintended
• unintentional