derange
EnglishEdit
EtymologyEdit
From French déranger, from Old French desrengier (“throw into disorder”), from des- + rengier (“to put into line”), from reng (“line, row”), from a Germanic source. See rank (noun).
PronunciationEdit
VerbEdit
derange (third-person singular simple present deranges, present participle deranging, simple past and past participle deranged)
- (transitive, chiefly passive) To cause (someone) to go insane or become deranged.
- (transitive) To cause disorder in (something); to distort from its ideal state.
- 1776, Adam Smith, The Wealth of Nations
- Both these kinds of monopolies derange more or less the natural distribution of the stock of the society;
- 1776, Adam Smith, The Wealth of Nations
- (archaic) to disrupt somebody's plans, to inconvenience someone
- 1782, Fanny Burney, Cecilia, Memoirs of an Heiress
- "By no means, Sir," answered the Captain: "I shall be quite au désespoir if I derange any body."
- 1898, Arthur Conan Doyle, The Lost Special
- A second special was out of the question, as the ordinary local service was already somewhat deranged by the first.
- 1782, Fanny Burney, Cecilia, Memoirs of an Heiress
TranslationsEdit
to cause someone to go insane
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to cause disorder in something, to distort it from its ideal state
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