déranger

Pronunciation

• IPA: /de.ʁɑ̃.ʒe/^[1]

Forms

déranger^[1] Old French desrengier.^[1][2]

Etymology

It is from French dé- + ranger, formed as the opposite of arranger.^[3][4][5][6] The verb ranger comes from rang, from Frankish *hring (“circle, ring”).^[7]

Earliest recorded meaning

In the Chanson de Roland (about 1100) desrengier means to break ranks, a sense used until the 15th century.^[3][2]

Semantic evolution

In the early 13th century it meant to throw ranks into disorder, and, from 1596 (Hulsius) to move something from its proper place, to disarrange.^[3] In the late 17th century Madame de Sévigné uses it for upsetting plans or the working of something, and cerveau dérangé “deranged mind” is in Destouches (1713).^[3]

Moving someone from their place (La Bruyère, before 1693) led to the common modern sense “to disturb, bother” (Trévoux, 1752): excusez-moi de vous déranger.^[3][2] In 1694 the Académie has dérangé dans sa conduite “led astray”, and in 1704 se déranger means to fall into dissipation.^[3]

Timeline

• c. 1100 – Desrengier “to break ranks”, Chanson de Roland.^[3]
• 1596 – To disarrange, Hulsius.^[3]
• 1713 – Le cerveau dérangé, Destouches.^[3]
• 1752 – To bother, Trévoux.^[3]
• 1636 – The derivative dérangement.^[7]

Meanings

Verb

1. To disturb, bother (someone): je ne voudrais pas vous déranger, ne pas déranger.^[1][5]
2. To disarrange, mess up: déranger des papiers.^[1][5]
3. To upset, disrupt (plans, the working of something): avoir l'esprit dérangé.^[5][3]
4. Se déranger: to move, put oneself out: ne vous dérangez pas.^[5]

Word family

• dérangement

Related words

• dérangeur
• ranger
• arranger
• rang

References

1. ^ a b c d e Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
2. ^ a b c Guilbert, Louis; Lagane, René; Niobey, Georges, eds. (1971–1978; 1989), Grand Larousse de la langue française, Paris: Larousse
3. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k Trésor de la langue française informatisé (2004), ATILF – CNRS & Université de Lorraine, atilf.fr/tlfi; electronic version of Imbs, Paul; Quemada, Bernard, eds. (1971–1994), Trésor de la langue française, Paris: CNRS / Gallimard
4. ^ Rey, Alain, ed. (2005), Le Grand Robert de la langue française, electronic version, Paris: Le Robert
5. ^ a b c d e Rey-Debove, Josette; Rey, Alain, eds. (2007), Le Petit Robert de la langue française, Paris: Le Robert
6. ^ Wartburg, Walther von, et al. (1922–2002), Französisches Etymologisches Wörterbuch, 25 vols., Bonn / Leipzig / Basel: Klopp / Teubner / Zbinden, p. 16, 244a
7. ^ a b Bloch, Oscar; Wartburg, Walther von (1989), Dictionnaire étymologique de la langue française, 8th ed., Paris: Presses universitaires de France