from
The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48
Array \Ar*ray"\, n. [OE. arai, arrai, OF. arrai, arrei, arroi,
order, arrangement, dress, F. arroi; a (L. ad) + OF. rai,
rei, roi, order, arrangement, fr. G. or Scand.; cf. Goth.
raidjan, garaidjan, to arrange, MHG. gereiten, Icel.
rei[eth]i rigging, harness; akin to E. ready. Cf. {Ready},
{Greith}, {Curry}.]
1. Order; a regular and imposing arrangement; disposition in
regular lines; hence, order of battle; as, drawn up in
battle array.
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Wedged together in the closest array. --Gibbon.
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2. The whole body of persons thus placed in order; an orderly
collection; hence, a body of soldiers.
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A gallant array of nobles and cavaliers. --Prescott.
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3. An imposing series of things.
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Their long array of sapphire and of gold. --Byron.
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4. Dress; garments disposed in order upon the person; rich or
beautiful apparel. --Dryden.
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5. (Law)
(a) A ranking or setting forth in order, by the proper
officer, of a jury as impaneled in a cause.
(b) The panel itself.
(c) The whole body of jurors summoned to attend the court.
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{To challenge the array} (Law), to except to the whole panel.
--Cowell. --Tomlins. --Blount.
{Commission of array} (Eng. Hist.), a commission given by the
prince to officers in every county, to muster and array
the inhabitants, or see them in a condition for war.
--Blackstone.
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