Disorder, n.
Etymology: [Pref. dis- + order: cf. F. désordre.]
1. Want of order or regular disposition; lack of arrangement; confusion; disarray; as, the troops were thrown into disorder; the papers are in disorder.
2. Neglect of order or system; irregularity. From vulgar bounds with brave disorder part, And snatch a grace beyond the reach of art. Pope.
3. Breach of public order; disturbance of the peace of society; tumult. Shak.
4. Disturbance of the functions of the animal economy of the soul; sickness; derangement. "Disorder in the body." Locke.
1 more senses
Syn. -- Irregularity; disarrangement; confusion; tumult; bustle; disturbance; disease; illness; indisposition; sickness; ailment; malady; distemper. See Disease.
1 other Webster entry under this spelling
Disorder, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Disordered; p. pr. & vb. n. Disordering.]
1. To disturb the order of; to derange or disarrange; to throw into confusion; to confuse. Disordering the whole frame or jurisprudence. Burke. The burden . . . disordered the aids and auxiliary rafters into a common ruin. Jer. Taylor.
2. To disturb or interrupt the regular and natural functions of (either body or mind); to produce sickness or indisposition in; to discompose; to derange; as, to disorder the head or stomach. A man whose judgment was so much disordered by party spirit. Macaulay.
3. To depose from holy orders. [Obs.] Dryden.
Syn. -- To disarrange; derange; confuse; discompose.
Shades of meaning
Fernald has no entry of its own for disorder; he lists it under disease, revolution.
Where he writes about it:
Disease is the general term for any deviation from health; in a more limited sense it denotes some definite morbid condition; disorder and affection are rather partial and limited; as, a nervous affection; a disorder of the digestive system. — from disease
Sickness was generally used in English speech and literature, till the close of the eighteenth century at least, for every form of physical disorder, as abundantly appears in the English Bible: "Jesus went about ... healing all manner of sickness and all manner of disease among the people," Matt. iv, 23; "Elisha was fallen sick of his sickness whereof he died," 2 Kings xiii, 14. — from disease
Confusion, disorder, riot, and tumult are incidental and temporary outbreaks of lawlessness, but may not be anarchy. — from revolution
Anarchy, when more than temporary disorder, is a proposed disintegration of society, in which it is imagined that social order might exist without government. — from revolution