order English · revision 2006

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=borrowing|attested=before 1200 (Ancrene Riwle)|origins=la ōrdō}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: UK /ˈɔː.də/, US /ˈɔːr.dɚ/^(Roach et al. 2011)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[inh|enm|ordre]], [[bor|fro|ordre]], earlier [[m|fro|ordene]],^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988)^(AHD 2000) from [[la|ōrdō|t=row, line, rank; series, arrangement]] (stem [[m|la|ōrdin-]]),^(Etymonline)^(COED 2004) originally “a row of threads in a loom”.^(Etymonline) It is related to [[m|la|ōrdīrī|t=to begin to weave; to begin]] and [[m|la|ōrnāre|t=to adorn]].^(Hoad 1986)^(SOED 2002)^(Klein 1966) Its further origin is uncertain: Watkins suggests a variant of the root [[ine-pro|*ar-|t=to fit together]], which de Vaan finds semantically attractive,^(Etymonline) and Klein also thinks it possibly from that root.^(Klein 1966) In church senses the English word follows Medieval Latin use of the same noun.^(MWU 2024)^(MW Collegiate)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ Rank, class, sequence and methodical arrangement, and a body of people living under a religious rule, both probably before 1200 in the ''Ancrene Riwle''.^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ The word reflected a medieval idea of a system of parts with fixed ranks and proportions, used of everything from architecture to the nine orders of angels,^(Etymonline)^(Hoad 1986)^(SOED 2002) ideas that Old English had expressed with ''endebyrdnes''.^(Etymonline) A rank in secular society is recorded about 1300,^(Etymonline) and “fit arrangement of parts” and “regular sequence” in the late 14th century.^(Etymonline)^(Hoad 1986) Orders of knighthood grew out of the Crusader fraternities.^(Etymonline) The Order of the Garter was founded by Edward III about 1344, and the story that its motto, ''Honi soit qui mal y pense'', was the king's reply when a countess's garter fell off is a dubious tradition.^(Cresswell 2021) The sense “a command” is from the 1540s, from the idea of what keeps things in order,^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988) “a written direction to pay money or deliver goods” by 1837, and “a request for food in a restaurant” from 1836.^(Etymonline) In biology an order is a group of related families (18th century), and in architecture a style of column and entablature (16th century).^(Hoad 1986) ''Out of order'' meant “not in normal sequence” in the 16th century, then “not in good health” in the 18th, and finally “not working” or “unacceptable” (late 18th century).^(Cresswell 2021) ''Take orders'', to become a priest, is Middle English.^(Cresswell 2021) The verb meant “to arrange in rows or ranks” about 1200 and “to command” from the 1540s,^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988) and “to ask for (something) to be supplied” from 1763.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * before 1200 – rank, sequence, and a religious order (''Ancrene Riwle'').^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * c. 1200 – verb, to arrange in rows or ranks.^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * c. 1300 – a rank in secular society.^(Etymonline)

+ * c. 1344 – the Order of the Garter.^(Cresswell 2021)

+ * c. 1350 – a decree or rule.^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * late 14th century – a regular sequence; fit arrangement.^(Etymonline)

+ * c. 1477 – ''orderly'', adverb.^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * 1540s – a command.^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * 16th century – ''out of order'', not in sequence.^(Cresswell 2021)

+ * 1598 – ''orderly'', well-behaved (Shakespeare).^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * 1763 – verb, to ask for something to be supplied.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1800 – ''orderly'', a military attendant.^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * 1836 – an order in a restaurant.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1837 – a written order to pay or deliver.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Noun===

+ # A logical or regular arrangement of things.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # [[sequence|alt=Sequence]]: ''alphabetical order''.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # A state of peace and respect for authority: ''law and order''.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # Working condition: ''in good order'', ''out of order''.^(AHD)^(Cresswell 2021)

+ # A [[command]] or instruction.^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988)

+ # A request for goods to be supplied, or for food in a restaurant.^(Etymonline)

+ # A religious community living under a rule.^(Etymonline)^(Hoad 1986)

+ # A society of knights, or an honour granted by a state: ''the Order of the Garter''.^(Cresswell 2021)^(HTOED)

+ # A rank or class: ''the lower orders''.^(Collins 2023)

+ # ''(biology)'' A group of related families in classification.^(Collins 2023)^(Hoad 1986)

+ # ''(architecture)'' A style of column and entablature.^(Hoad 1986)

+

+ ===Verb===

+ # To give a command to.^(AHD)

+ # To ask for (something) to be supplied: ''order a pizza''.^(AHD)

+ # To arrange methodically.^(AHD)

+ # To ordain, predestine.^(AHD)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[orderer]]

+ * [[orderable]]

+ * [[orderless]]

+ * [[superorder]]

+ * [[suborder]]

+ * [[infraorder]]

+ * [[made-to-order]]

+ * [[counterorder]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[ordain]]

+ * [[orderly]]

+ * [[ordinal]]

+ * [[ordinary]]

+ * [[ordinance]]

+ * [[coordinate]]

+ * [[subordinate]]

+ * [[adorn]]

+ * [[primordial]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}