1ar;ray pronunciation: function: transitive verb etymology: middle english, from anglo-french arraier, from vulgar latin *arredare, from latin ad- + a base of germanic origin; akin to gothic garaiths arranged — more at readydate: 14th century 1 : to dress or decorate especially in splendid or impressive attire : adorn lt;he had already arrayed himself in his best clothes — thomas hardygt;2 a : to set or place in order : draw up, marshal lt;the forces arrayed against usgt; b : to set or set forth in order (as a jury) for the trial of a cause3 : to arrange or display in or as if in an array lt;the…data are arrayed in descending order — ed burnettgt;— ar;ray;er noun