array

Meanings

1. 1
   noun

   A large group or wide range of things, often impressively displayed.

   The shop offers a dazzling array of cheeses from around the world.

2. 2
   noun

   An orderly arrangement of things set out in lines or order.

   The soldiers stood in neat array across the field.

3. 3
   verb

   To arrange things in an orderly way, often in a line.

   We arrayed all the parts on the table before assembling the engine.

From Middle English arrayen, from Anglo-Norman arraier (compare Old French arraier, areer (“to put in order”)), from Vulgar Latin *arrēdō (“to put in order, arrange, array”), from *rēdum (“preparation, order”), from Frankish *raid or *raidā (“preparation, order”) or Gothic 𐌲𐌰𐍂𐌰𐌹𐌸𐍃 (garaiþs, “ready, prepared”), from Proto-Germanic *raidaz, *raidiz (“ready”). Compare Old English rād (“condition, stipulation”), Old High German antreitī (“order, rank”). Doublet of ready.

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