'prearrangement' originates from the prefix 'pre-' meaning 'before' and the word 'arrangement' from Old French 'arranger', where 'a-' meant 'to' and 'ranger' meant 'to rank or set in order'.

'arranger' transformed into the Middle English word 'arrangen', and eventually became the modern English word 'arrange', with 'prearrangement' forming as a compound.

Initially, it meant 'to set in order beforehand', and this meaning has largely remained the same in modern usage.