'rearrange' originates from the prefix 're-' meaning 'again' and the word 'arrange' from Old French 'arangier', where 'a-' meant 'to' and 'rangier' meant 'set in a row'.

'arangier' transformed into the Middle English word 'arrangen', and eventually became the modern English word 'arrange'.

Initially, it meant 'to set in a row', but over time it evolved into its current meaning of 'to change the order or position of something'.