désarroi

Forms

désarroi m (usually uncountable, plural désarrois)^[1] Middle French désaroy.^[2][1]

Etymology

It is a deverbal noun from Middle French desarreier (“to throw into disorder”) (1355), which was formed from areer (“to arrange”) with the prefix des-.^[2][3][4] Bloch and Wartburg and the GLLF give the verb also as desarroyer.^[5][6] It replaced the older noun desroi or desrei (12th century), the deverbal of desreer (“to lead astray, throw into disorder”), itself made from conreer by a change of prefix.^[2][3][5]

That verb, source also of arroi, goes back to Vulgar Latin *arredō, which appears to be formed on Gothic *rēþs (“means, provision”), a word brought early into Roman Gaul by Germanic mercenaries; Old High German rāt and German Rat (“advice, means”) belong with it.^[5][4] The DHLF also mentions another explanation, from a Vulgar Latin verb based on a Gothic verb meaning “to provide for”.^[4] Cognate with Italian arredare, Spanish arrear and Old Occitan arezar.^[5][4]

Earliest recorded meaning

It is first found before 1475, as désaroy in George Chastellain's Chronique, meaning “disorder”.^[2][3]

Semantic evolution

The older desroi was common from the 12th century for disorder, unruly behaviour and tumult.^[7][2] Désarroi took over its sense of things thrown into disorder or disorganization, of armies, finances or the state of a country.^[4][2]

By the middle of the 16th century (before 1558) it was used figuratively for a person's moral confusion and uncertainty, with a note of distress; the GLLF dates this sense only to Furetière in 1690.^[2][4][6] This is now the usual meaning, and the sense “material disorder” is dated.^[8][6]

Timeline

• 12th century – The older noun desroi is recorded.^[2][7]
• 1355 – Pierre Bersuire uses the verb desarreier “to throw into disorder”.^[2]
• Before 1475 – Désaroy “disorder” appears in Chastellain's Chronique.^[2][3]
• Before 1558 – First figurative use for “trouble, uncertainty”.^[2][8]
• 1690 – Furetière records the sense of moral confusion.^[6]

Meanings

Noun

1. (dated) Complete disorder, disorganization of things or affairs.^[8][2]
2. Moral confusion and distress of someone who does not know what to think or do: être en plein désarroi.^[8][6]

Related words

• arroi
• corroyer

References

1. ^ a b c Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l 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
3. ^ a b c d Rey, Alain, ed. (2005), Le Grand Robert de la langue française, electronic version, Paris: Le Robert
4. ^ a b c d e f Rey, Alain, ed. (1992), Dictionnaire historique de la langue française, Paris: Le Robert
5. ^ a b c d Bloch, Oscar; Wartburg, Walther von (1989), Dictionnaire étymologique de la langue française, 8th ed., Paris: Presses universitaires de France
6. ^ a b c d e Guilbert, Louis; Lagane, René; Niobey, Georges, eds. (1971–1978; 1989), Grand Larousse de la langue française, Paris: Larousse
7. ^ a b Littré, Émile (1873–1877), Dictionnaire de la langue française, 4 vols. and supplement, Paris: Hachette
8. ^ a b c d Rey-Debove, Josette; Rey, Alain, eds. (2007), Le Petit Robert de la langue française, Paris: Le Robert