arrondissement [uh -ron -dis-muh nt, ar-uh n-dees -; French a -r awn -dees-mahn ]
Word Origin
noun, plural ar·ron·disse·ments [uh -ron -dis-muh nts; French a -r awn -dees-mahn ] /əˈrɒn dɪs mənts; French the largest administrative division of a French department, comprising a number of cantons. an administrative district of certain large cities in France. Show More
Origin of arrondissement 1800–10; <
French, equivalent to
arrondiss- (variant stem of
arrondir to round out; see
a-5 ,
round1 ) +
-ment -ment Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018
British Dictionary definitions for arrondissement the largest administrative subdivision of a department a municipal district of certain cities, esp Paris Show More
Word Origin for arrondissement C19: from arrondir to make round, from ab- 1 + -rondir from rond round
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
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Word Origin and History for arrondissement n. 1807, "administrative subdivision of a French department," from French, literally "a rounding," from stem of arrondir "to make round," from a- "to" (see ad- ) + rond "round" (see round (adj.)).
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Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
