array

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. reiði 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. [ 1913 Webster ]

Wedged together in the closest array. Gibbon. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. The whole body of persons thus placed in order; an orderly collection; hence, a body of soldiers. [ 1913 Webster ]

A gallant array of nobles and cavaliers. Prescott. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. An imposing series of things. [ 1913 Webster ]

Their long array of sapphire and of gold. Byron. [ 1913 Webster ]

4. Dress; garments disposed in order upon the person; rich or beautiful apparel. Dryden. [ 1913 Webster ]

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. [ 1913 Webster ]

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. [ 1913 Webster ]