arbitrary vs matter

arbitrary

noun
  • Anything arbitrary, such as an arithmetical value or a fee. 

adj
  • Not representative or symbolic; not iconic. 

  • Determined by independent arbiter. 

  • Determined by impulse rather than reason; heavy-handed. 

  • Based on individual discretion or judgment; not based on any objective distinction, perhaps even made at random. 

  • Any, out of all that are possible. 

matter

noun
  • An approximate amount or extent. 

  • Matter made up of normal particles, not antiparticles. 

  • Aristotelian: undeveloped potentiality subject to change and development; formlessness. Matter receives form, and becomes substance. 

  • An affair, condition, or subject, especially one of concern or (especially when preceded by the) one that is problematic. 

  • The basic structural component of the universe, usually having mass and volume. 

  • Printed material, especially in books or magazines. 

  • A kind of substance. 

verb
  • To be important. 

  • To care about, to mind; to find important. 

How often have the words arbitrary and matter occurred in a corpus of books? (source: Google Ngram Viewer )