Disarray
/ˌdɪs.əˈreɪ/noun
A state of confusion, disorder, or untidiness.
Did you know?Disarray entered English through a verb meaning “to arrange,” so the word literally carries the eerie feeling of order being stripped away, piece by piece.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*h₃reǵ-
“to straighten, direct, arrange”
Latin
Latin
regere
“to guide, rule, keep straight”
Old French
Old French
areier
“to arrange, put in order”
Middle English
English
disarrayen
“to undress, strip off armor or clothing; later, to put out of order”
Modern English
English
disarray
“confusion, disorder, untidiness”