| derange | 1. To put out of place, order, or rank; to disturb the proper arrangement or order of; to throw into disorder, confusion, or embarrassment; to disorder; to disarrange; as, to derange the plans of a commander, or the affairs of a nation. 2. To disturb in action or function, as a part or organ, or the whole of a machine or organism. "A sudden fall deranges some of our internal parts." (Blair) 3. To disturb in the orderly or normal action of the intellect; to render insane. Synonym: To disorder, disarrange, displace, unsettle, disturb, confuse, discompose, ruffle, disconcert. Origin: F. Deranger; pref. De- = des- (L. Dis) + ranger to range. See Range, and cf. Disarrange, Disrank. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998) |
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| derangement | 1. A disturbance of the regular order or arrangement. 2. Rarely used term for a mental disturbance or disorder. Origin: Fr. Hey's internal derangement, dislocation of the semilunar cartilages of the knee joint. (05 Mar 2000) |