arrange

Pronunciation

• IPA: /əˈreɪndʒ/^[1]

Etymology

It is borrowed from Old French arengier (“to put in a row, in battle order”),^[2][3][4] from a-, to (Latin ad-), and rangier, to set in a row,^[2][3][4] from rang, rank, from Frankish *hring, ring (see range and ring).^[2][3]

Earliest recorded meaning

To draw up in ranks or a line of battle: 1375, in Barbour's Bruce.^[2][5]

Semantic evolution

It was a rare word until about 1780–1800, when the meaning widened to placing things in order;^[3][5] to come to an agreement is by 1786,^[3] and to adapt music for other instruments or voices by 1808.^[3][5] Arranged marriage is attested by 1854.^[3] Arrangement is from 1727–51, in Chambers's Cyclopaedia.^[2] The doubled r was an attempt to restore what was thought to be a Latin form.^[2]

Timeline

• 1375 – to draw up in ranks.^[2][5]
• 1727–51 – arrangement.^[2]
• 1786 – to come to an agreement.^[3]
• 1791 – to put in order.^[5]
• 1808 – to arrange music.^[3][5]
• 1854 – arranged marriage.^[3]

Modern meaning

Verb

1. To put into a proper or orderly order or position.
2. To plan or prepare for in advance.
3. To come to an agreement about; to settle.
4. To adapt a piece of music for other instruments or voices.

Word family

• arranger
• arrangeable
• disarrange
• misarrange
• overarrange
• rearrange
• prearrange
• unarranged

Related words

• arrangement
• ring
• range
• rank
• derange

References

1. ^ Jones, Daniel (2011), Cambridge English Pronouncing Dictionary, 18th ed., ed. Peter Roach, Jane Setter and John Esling, Cambridge: Cambridge University Press
2. ^ a b c d e f g h Barnhart, Robert K. (1988), The Barnhart Dictionary of Etymology
3. ^ a b c d e f g h i j Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com
4. ^ a b Hoad, T. F., ed. (1986), The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Etymology, Oxford: Clarendon Press
5. ^ a b c d e f Simpson, J. A.; Weiner, E. S. C., eds. (1989), The Oxford English Dictionary, 2nd ed., Oxford: Clarendon Press