arbitrary reference

A term used in GENERATIVE GRAMMAR, especially in GOVERNMENT-BINDING THEORY, in connection with the understood SUBJECT of certain INFINITIVES, represented by big PRO. For example, in It’s easy PRO to annoy John, the infinitive has an empty PRO subject which is not CONTROLLED (i.e. it is not CO-REFERENTIAL with some other NOUN PHRASE in the SENTENCE), but is interpreted as ‘for anyone’. The reference in such a case is arbitrary.