Etymology Map
Back to all words

Arrange

3 stages from Frankish to English.

Today it means to put in a neat or required order

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

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

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.