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arrondissement

[uh-ron-dis-muh nt, ar-uh n-dees-; French a-rawn-dees-mahn]
noun, plural ar·ron·disse·ments [uh-ron-dis-muh nts; French a-rawn-dees-mahn] /əˈrɒn dɪs mənts; French a rɔ̃ disˈmɑ̃/.
  1. the largest administrative division of a French department, comprising a number of cantons.
  2. an administrative district of certain large cities in France.
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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

arrondissement

noun (in France)
  1. the largest administrative subdivision of a department
  2. a municipal district of certain cities, esp Paris
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Word Origin

C19: from arrondir to make round, from ab- 1 + -rondir from rond round
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

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