array English · revision 7748

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=borrowing|attested=c. 1320|origins=frk *rēd}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: /əˈɹeɪ/^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is Middle English araien, arraien, [[bor|xno|arayer]], from Old French areer, to put in order,^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline)^(MWU 2024) from Vulgar Latin *arredāre,^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988) from Latin ad-, to, and a Frankish *rēd-, ready,^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988) from Proto-Germanic *raidjan, to place in order, source also of Old English ġerǣde, ready (see [[ready]]).^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988) The noun is Anglo-French arai, Old French arei, arroi, from the verb.^(Barnhart 1988)^(Hoad 1986)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ To prepare, make oneself ready: about 1320 in the OED;^(OED 1989) to arrange troops for battle, the mid-14th century in Etymonline.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ The noun, order or arrangement, is from before 1338, in Mannyng's ''Chronicle''.^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline) Troops drawn up in battle order, equipment, clothing and splendour are from the late 14th century,^(Etymonline) as are the verb senses to equip, put clothing on and adorn.^(Etymonline) In law, to array a panel of jurors is from 1591.^(OED 1989) An orderly assemblage, an impressive display, is from 1814.^(Etymonline)^(Collins 2023) In mathematics, an arrangement of numbers in rows and columns is a later technical sense.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * c. 1320 – to prepare.^(OED 1989)

+ * before 1338 – the noun, order.^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * mid-14th century – to marshal troops.^(Etymonline)

+ * late 14th century – to dress.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1814 – an orderly assemblage.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Noun===

+ # An impressive display or collection; a large number: ''an array of options''.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # An orderly arrangement, especially of troops for battle.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # ''(poetic)'' Fine clothing.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # ''(mathematics)'' An arrangement of numbers or symbols in rows and columns, as in a [[matrix]].^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+

+ ===Verb===

+ # To set out in order for display or use.^(AHD)

+ # To dress in finery; to [[adorn]].^(AHD)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[arrayer]]

+ * [[unarrayed]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[disarray]]

+ * [[ready]]

+ * [[arrange]]

+ * [[raiment]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}