n. [ OE. randon, OF. randon force, violence, rapidity, à 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. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

For courageously the two kings newly fought with great random and force. E. Hall. [ 1913 Webster ]

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. [ 1913 Webster ]

Counsels, when they fly
At random, sometimes hit most happily. Herrick. [ 1913 Webster ]

O, many a shaft, at random sent,
Finds mark the archer little meant! Sir W. Scott. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. Distance to which a missile is cast; range; reach; as, the random of a rifle ball. Sir K. Digby. [ 1913 Webster ]

4. (Mining) The direction of a rake-vein. Raymond. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. 1. 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. [ 1913 Webster ]

Some random truths he can impart. Wordsworth. [ 1913 Webster ]

So sharp a spur to the lazy, and so strong a bridle to the random. H. Spencer. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. (Statistics) Of, pertaining to, or resulting from a process of selection from a starting set of items, in which the probability of selecting any one object in the starting set is equal to the probability of selecting any other. [ PJC ]

3. (Construction) of unequal size or shape; made from components of unequal size or shape. [ PJC ]

at random in a manner so that all possible results have an equal probability of occurrence; for processes, each possible result is counted separately although the same type of result may occur more than once . --
Random courses (Masonry), courses of stone 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. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. To arrange or rearrange so that there is no predetermined order; to make random; to select by a random process; to assign (members of a group) into subgroups by a random process.
Syn. -- make random. [ PJC ]

adv. In a random manner. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. Random. [ Obs. ] Spenser. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. i. To go or stray at random. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]