arrange

Where does the word "arrange" come from? It comes from Frankish rang, passing through Old French before entering English (1300s).

Arrange’s story begins in Frankish: rang meant “row, rank.” A Frankish word related to 'ring', a circle of people. By medieval, the word had taken hold in Old French as arangier. Used for arranging troops for battle. It reached English by 1300s as arrange. Musical 'arrangements' date from the 1800s. Today, arrange means to put in a neat or required order.

1. Stage 1 · Frankish · ancient rang "row, rank", a Frankish word related to 'ring', a circle of people.
2. Stage 2 · Old French · medieval arangier "to draw up in line", used for arranging troops for battle.
3. Stage 3 · English · 1300s arrange "to set in order", musical 'arrangements' date from the 1800s.