Disarraying

/ˌdɪsəˈreɪɪŋ/ verb

Definition

Present participle: the act of throwing something into disorder or disturbing its neat arrangement.

Etymology

From dis- + array + -ing. Array comes from Old French arrei, meaning to arrange or put in order, so disarray means the opposite process.

Kelly Says

The word 'array' originally meant armor or military equipment laid out in order—so 'disarray' literally meant taking off your armor, suggesting vulnerability and chaos.

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