assort, v.
(əˈsɔːt)
[a. OF. assorter (mod. assortir), f. à to + sorte sort, kind; cf. It. assortare (Florio), -ire.]
1. trans. To distribute (things, rarely persons) into groups, as being of like nature or intended for the same purpose; to arrange in sorts, classify.
| 1490 Caxton Eneydos xv. 54 And chose theym one from the other for to assorte theym. 1611 Cotgr., Assortir, To sort, assort..order severall things handsomely; also, to furnish, or store with all sorts of. 1774 Burke Sp. Amer. Taxation Wks. II. 420 The colleagues whom he had assorted at the same boards. 1803 Miss Porter Thaddeus xiv. (1831) 128 Assorting some parcels on the counter. |
2. trans. To class, place (a thing or person) in the same group with others.
| 1833 I. Taylor Fanat. v. 89 The companions with whom we found ourselves assorted. 1861 Dickens Gt. Expect. I. 259 He would..assort it with the fabulous dogs and veal-cutlets as a monstrous invention. |
3. intr. To fall into a class, take one's place fitly; to be of a sort, match, suit well or ill with.
| 1800 W. Taylor in Month. Mag. X. 424 His Muse assorts ill with the personages of Christian mythology. 1837 Sir W. Hamilton Metaph. xxxvii. (1870) II. 335 Finding that it is harmonious,—that it dovetails and naturally assorts with other parts. |
4. intr. To consort, keep company, associate with.
| 1823 Lamb Elia Ser. ii. vii. (1865) 284, I could abide to assort with fisher-swains. 1861 Pycroft Agony Point vii. (1862) 81 She assorted with those of an age at which, etc. |
5. trans. To furnish with an assortment.
| [Cf. 1611 in 1.] a 1797 Burke (T.) The well-assorted warehouses of dissenting congregations. Mod. We have sent orders for some white goods to assort our store. |