Organized

Part of speech: adjective, verb

Pronunciation: /ˈɔɹɡənaɪzd/

Definitions

1. Arranged in a clear, methodical order ; having a planned or orderly structure ; composed into a formal or official group or association
2. Systematically placed or grouped for efficiency ; exhibiting deliberate arrangement or design ; established as a cooperative unit or organization
3. Put in a logical or neat sequence ; designed with coordination and preparation ; brought together into a collective or harmonious body

Etymology: Organized comes from "organ," the musical instrument, which in Latin and Greek was simply a tool or implement. The "-ize" ending, from Greek "-izein," turns a noun into a verb meaning "to make into" or "to treat in a certain way." So "to organize" originally meant something like "to furnish with organs" or "to equip," and the sense of arranging things into a working whole came later. The link to music and bodies explains the metaphor. An organ, whether instrument or body part, is a structure whose parts work together, and English borrowed that picture for groups of people and tasks. The adjective "organized" is German in spirit as well: English adopted the idea as a calque of German "organisiert," so its modern sense of orderliness was shaped by a German model.

Synonyms: arranged, systematized, structured

Antonyms: disorganized, chaotic