DISARRAY


Meaning of DISARRAY in English

I. |dis+ noun

( -s )

Etymology: Middle English disaray, from Middle French desarroi, from Old French from desareer

1. : a lack of order or sequence

those dark and noisome hulks anchored in forlorn disarray — Kenneth Roberts

2. : a confused state in which orderly disposition has been broken or lost : disarrangement

the disarray into which society had been thrown by this deplorable affair — Edith Wharton

3. : incomplete or disorderly dress

Synonyms: see confusion

II. transitive verb

Etymology: Middle English disarayen, from Middle French desarroyer, from Old French desareer, from des- dis- (I) + areer to prepare, provide, put in order — more at array

1. : to throw into disorder : put out of array

the child had disarrayed the bedcovers

2. : to take off the dress of : unrobe

called to disarray the queen

3. archaic : despoil , strip — used with of

Webster's New International English Dictionary.      Новый международный словарь английского языка Webster.