▪ I. † sort, n.1 Obs.
Also 4–5 soort, 5–6 sorte.
[a. OF. sort (mod.F. sort, = It. and Pg. sorte, Sp. suerte), or ad. L. sort-, sors lot, share, fortune, condition, etc. Cf. next.]
1. a. With possessive pronoun: The fate or lot of a particular person or persons.
| c 1250 Gen. & Ex. 1186 Abimalech..sente after abraham.., And bi-taȝte him his wif a-non, And his yuel sort was ouer⁓gon. c 1374 Chaucer Troylus 1754 O lord, right now renneth my sort Fully to dye, or han anoon comfort. 1412–20 Lydg. Chron. Troy v. 2643 Ageyn my sort me list not maligne. c 1450 Merlin ii. 36 Ye thought to sle hym, be the whiche ye sholde be brought to the deth as be youre sorte. c 1500 Lancelot 26 So be such meine fatit was my sort. |
b. In more general sense: Destiny, hap, fate, fortune.
| c 1386 Chaucer Prol. 844 Anon to drawen every wight began,..Were it by aventure, or sort, or cas, The soth is this, the cut fil to the knight. c 1450 St. Cuthbert (Surtees) 5915 It fell aftir be happe and sort. 1581 Marbeck Bk. of Notes 880 That the sorts & lots which appeare most subject to fortune goe so forth by his providence. |
2. = lot n. 1.
| 13.. E.E. Allit. P. C. 193 Sone haf þay her sortes sette & serelych deled, & ay þe lote..lymped on Ionas. 1606 Shakes. Tr. & Cr. i. iii. 376 Make a Lott'ry, And by deuice let blockish Aiax draw The sort to fight with Hector. |
b. The casting or drawing of lots; divination by this means. Chiefly in phr. by sort, = lot n. 1 b.
| c 1386 Chaucer Pars. T. ¶605 What seye we of hem that bilieven on divinailes, as by flight or by nois of briddes.., or by sort, by geomancie [etc.] ? a 1470 Harding Chron. lxvii. ii, Engist and Horsus,..By sort sent out all voyde of Saxonye. 1483 Caxton Cato F j, Thou oughtest not to enquyre by sorte or wytche crafte of that that god wyl doo. c 1500 Melusine 110 Ne also sort or enchauntment of art Magique..shul not lette ne greve you. 1525 Ld. Berners Froiss. II. 651 A generall fame..ran vpon her, that all the infyrmiteis the kyng had..came all by hir sortes and artes. |
c. The choice resulting from such a casting of lots, = lot n. 1 c. rare.
| 1382 Wyclif Ezek. xxiv. 6 Woo to the citee of blodis..; soort, or lot, felle not vpon it. ― Luke i. 5 Ther was sum prest, Zacharie by name,..of the sort of Abia. 1563–7 Buchanan Reform. St. Andros Wks. (S.T.S.) 10 That God..wald send the sort apon hym that war habliast to exerce that estat to hys glore. |
3. That which is allotted or assigned; a share or portion. rare.
| 1382 Wyclif Josh. xvii. 18 Thow shalt not haue o soort, but thow shalt passe to the hil. ― Acts viii. 21 Part is not to thee, nethir sort, in this word. 1483 Caxton Gold. Leg. 284 b/2 The men took wyues of theyr lignage only, that was by cause the distribucion of the sortes shold not be confounded. |
▪ II. sort, n.2
(sɔːt)
Also 4–6 soort, 5 soorte, 5–7 sorte, 5 sortt, sorth.
[a. OF. sorte (mod.F. sorte, = It. sorta):—pop. L. *sorta, alteration of L. sort-, sors: see prec. Cf. MLG. and G. sorte, WFris. soarte, Du. soort, Da. and Sw. sort.]
I. A kind, species, variety, or description of persons or things.
* Preceded by ‘of’.
1. a. of a (certain) sort, of a certain kind, etc.
| c 1380 Wyclif Serm. Sel. Wks. I. 392 Al þe folk of þis soort is a world þat shal be dampned. 1390 Gower Conf. I. 64 Ther ben lovers of such a sort, That feignen hem an humble port. c 1420 Lydg. Assembly of Gods 672 What pepyll they were that came to that dysport I shall yow declare of many a sondry sort. 1482 in Eng. Hist. Rev. XXV. 122 For every quayre of y⊇ secounde soorte..he shalle haue viij d. 1545 Rates of Custome House b ij b, Fysche of the smalliste sorte. 1574 tr. Marlorat's Apocalips 113 The things that are red euery where in the Psalmes and prophets: of which sorte bee these sayings. a 1628 Preston New Cov. (1634) 133 They be not all of one sort, but of divers sorts, some of one sort, some of another sort, but they are all vessels of glory. 1681 Dryden Abs. & Achit. 682 Surrounded thus with friends of every sort, Deluded Absalom forsakes the court. 1722 De Foe Relig. Courtsh. i. i. (1840) 13, I hope your girls are not of that sort. 1787 F. Burney Diary 16 Aug., The moment a topic of that solemn sort is started. 1816 J. Smith Panorama Sci. & Art II. 284 It gives a considerable shock, but has little power of any other sort. 1841 Thackeray Gt. Hoggarty Diam. xiii, Both your son and your daughter-in-law..are of that uncommon sort. 1875 Jowett Plato (ed. 2) V. 8 He should have a fear of the right sort, as well as a courage of the right sort. |
b. of (various) sorts. (With numerals, etc.)
| 1459 Paston Lett. I. 472, ij. quartelettes, of dyvers sortes. 1482 in Eng. Hist. Rev. XXV. 122 Which Bookes bene of iiij. dyuerse manere of soortes. 1519 Registr. Aberdon. (Maitl. Cl.) II. 175 Item iiij cusseins of nedyll werk of þre syndry sortis. 1548 Turner Names Herbes (E.D.S.) 24 Centaurium is of two sortes. 1582 Hakluyt Divers Voy. G ij b, An innumerable sort of wilde foule of all sortes. 1651 Hobbes Leviath. ii. xxiii. 125 Controversies are of two sorts, namely, of Fact and of Law. 1711 Addison Spect. No. 92 ¶6 Plays of all Sorts have their several Advocates. 1765 Ann. Reg. 158 He had..33 pegging-awls, 37 awls of other sorts. 1811 Wordsw. in Mem. (1851) I. 410 Physical enginery of all sorts. 1843 Penny Cycl. XXV. 424/2 The rosettes are of two sorts, fixed and shifting. |
2. a. Used of persons, with special reference to character, disposition, or rank. (Cf. 11 b.)
| c 1386 Chaucer Cook's T. 17 [He] gadred him a meyne of his sort, To hoppe and synge. a 1533 Ld. Berners Huon li. 170 A companyon of your owne sort haue y⊇ founde. 1581 G. Pettie tr. Guazzo's Civ. Conv. i. (1586) 4 These are for the most part men of good calling, and not of the common sort. 1590 Shakes. Mids. N. iii. ii. 159 None of nobler sort Would so offend a Virgin. 1621 H. Elsing Debates Ho. Lords (Camden) 63 For that he hathe made so clere and ingenuous confession, which men of his sorte doe not. 1635 R. N. tr. Camden's Hist. Eliz. iv. 409 This Hacket was a man of vulgar sort. 1722 De Foe Plague (1754) 46 Persons of good Sort and Credit. 1749 Chesterfield Lett. ccvii. (1792) II. 289 Worse dressed than people of your sort are. 1781 Cowper Retirem. 716 The mind..Should turn to writers of an abler sort. 1822 Shelley Faust ii. 222 They are too mad for people of my sort. |
† b. Hence of sort, of (high) quality or rank.
| 1603 Shakes. Meas. for M. iv. iv. 20 Giue notice to such men of sort and suite as are to meete him. 1606 Warner Alb. Eng. xvi. ci. (1612) 401 For things in some vnseemly are not such to some of Sort. 1624 Capt. Smith Virginia (1629) 106 His Lordship arrived.., accompanied with Sir Ferdinando Waynman..and divers other gentlemen of sort. |
3. a. of a sort, of the same kind or description. Now dial. (also of sort).
| 1463 Bury Wills (Camden) 23, ij lowe candylstikkez of a sorth. 1672 Temple Ess., Governm. Wks. 1720 I. 95 The same Countries have generally in all times been used to Forms of Government much of a sort. a 1715 Burnet Own Time (1766) I. 46 They were men all of a sort. 1839 Sir G. C. Lewis Gloss. Heref. s.v., ‘A thing of sort’ means a corresponding thing. 1876 T. M. Bound Prov. Shropsh. |
b. In suggestive use: a word of a sort, a sharp or angry word or reproof. rare.
| 1796 M. Robinson Angelina II. 39, I should have given him a word of a sort, I promise you. 1839 Sir G. C. Lewis Gloss. Heref. s.v., ‘Words of a sort’ means a quarrel. |
4. of sorts: a. Of different or various kinds. Now rare.
| 1597 in P. H. Hore Hist. Wexford (1900) I. 282, 6 yards Canikin, 18 hatts of sorts. 1599 Shakes. Hen. V, i. ii. 190 They [sc. bees] haue a King, and Officers of sorts. 1825 T. Hook Sayings Ser. ii. Passion & Princ. xi. III. 249 At this moment cheeses of sorts were paraded. c 1850 Rudim. Navig. (Weale) 135 Nails of sorts are 4, 6, 8, 10, 24, 30, and 40-penny nails, all of different lengths..for nailing board, &c. |
b. colloq. In disparaging use: Of a kind which is not very satisfactory; rather poor. Also without marked disparagement: of some (untypical or unusual) kind, not having the usual characteristics, equipment, facilities, etc.
| 1902 Daily Chron. 20 May 4/6 In the old days Spain provided an outlet of sorts. 1903 M{supc}Neill Egregious English 91 Up to this time you have been an orator of sorts. 1946 D. Gwynn Bishop Challoner x. 155 In the Midlands the Franciscans had a school of sorts at Edgbaston. 1959 N. Marsh False Scent (1960) i. 21 There's a party of sorts at half-past which I hope may amuse you. 1972 Times Lit. Suppl. 4 Aug. 909/4 (Advt.), He is a poetic eye, a visionary of sorts. 1973 Times 18 May 22/7 During the Second World War he was a soldier of sorts (he even rose from the ranks). |
5. something of the sort, something similar to that previously indicated, mentioned, or specified. nothing of the sort, no such thing.
| 1839 F. A. Kemble Resid. in Georgia (1863) 91 Something of the sort must be done. 1869 Martineau Ess. II. 120 Spinoza does nothing of the sort. 1895 Law Times Rep. LXXIII. 692/1 With regard to the..estate in England I disclaim, but I do nothing of the sort as regards the..estate in America. |
** Followed by ‘of’.
6. a. A particular kind, etc., of thing(s) or person(s).
| sing. 1529 More Suppl. Souls Wks. 329/1 Let vs now see whether sort of these twayn might take most harme. 1560 J. Daus tr. Sleidane's Comm. 63, I knowe that sorte of men ryght well. 1632 Lithgow Trav. iii. 102 These Cloysters haue a brauer life..than any sort of Friers can elsewhere find. 1671 Milton Samson 1323 Have they not..ev'ry sort Of Gymnic Artists, Wrestlers, Riders, Runners? 1737 Bracken Farriery Impr. (1757) II. 99 Hay well laid in is the only sort of Fodder for our Horses. 1779 Mirror No. 61, From the same sort of feeling has the idea of Home its attraction. 1818 Cruise Digest (ed. 2) III. 478 The second sort of prescription is that which arises from the several statutes of limitation. 1865 Trollope Belton Est. xvi. 189 A fair specimen of the sort of letter they ought not to write. 1885 Truth 28 May 854/2 He does not appear to be the sort of horse to stand much knocking about. |
| pl. 1526 Pilgr. Perf. (W. de W. 1531) 14 b, These two sortes of the chyldren of Israel. 1590 Sir J. Smyth Disc. Weapons 7 That those sorts of weapons..may be more readilie..drawne out. 1656 Hammond Leah & Rachel (1844) 13 The rivers afford innumerable sortes of choyce fish. 1670 Lady M. Bertie in 12th Rep. Hist. MSS. Comm. App. V. 21 The under pettycoatt very richly laced with two or three sorts of lace. 1725 Fam. Dict. s.v. Aristolochy, There are four sorts of Aristolochies. 1825 T. Hook Sayings Ser. ii. Passion & Princ. vi, He..did an infinity of those sorts of things which were not professionally required of him. |
b. all sorts of (things or persons), = ‘things or persons of all kinds or descriptions’. (Cf. 7 c.)
| 1558 Warde tr. Alexis' Secr. 33 b, Take of..al sortes of Mirabolanes. 1584 R. Scot Discov. Witchcr. ii. x. (1886) 27 All sorts of writers,..learned and unlearned. 1603 Reg. Mag. Sig. Scot. 514/1 Ilk hors laid of fische, flesche, cornis and all sortis of viveris. 1687 A. Lovell tr. Thevenot's Trav. i. 143 All sorts of things are sold in this street. 1700 Dryden tr. Ovid's Metam. xiii. Acis, Pol. & Gal. 136 All sorts of Ven'son; and of Birds the best. 1781 T. Gilbert Plan for Relief Poor 6 Workhouses are generally inhabited by all Sorts of Persons. 1860 Holland Miss Gilbert's Career i. 9 They answered..to all sorts of questions in geography. 1891 H. Herman His Angel 238 I've been buying frocks and all sorts of things these days past. |
| ellipt. 1597 J. King On Jonas (1618) Ep. Ded., Let it receiue favovrable interpretation with all sorts men. |
c. With distinguishing adjs. or attrib. phrases.
| 1590 Sir J. Smyth Disc. Weapons Ded., Others of the most dispost and lustie sort of people of our Nation. 1615 G. Sandys Trav. 120 A number of sheepe; which..they distribute vnto their slaues and poorer sort of people. 1676 Glanvill Ess. Philos. & Relig. iv. 12 By leaving this whole unintelligible sort of beings out of its accounts. 1705 Hearne Collect. 16 Aug. (O.H.S.) I. 30 Mr. Rymer..is a very good sort of Man. 1798 C. Smith Yng. Philos. I. 207, I have been tired of such John Trott sort of prosing ever since I was ten years old. 1836 Backwoods of Canada 123 We begin to get reconciled to our Robinson Crusoe sort of life. 1861 M. Pattison Ess. (1889) I. 45 A vine or two and some of the finer sorts of fruit. 1885 G. Allen Babylon xxxviii, Cecca was really not a bad sort of girl. |
7. Used collectively: a. With these or those.
| 1551 Recorde Cast. Knowl. (1556) 86 These sort of people are named of the greke Cosmographers..Heteroscij. 1563 Golding Cæsar 76 A great multitude..of those sorte of rascals whom hope of spoile..had wythdrawen from husbandrye. 1671 Phillips (ed. 3), Inchoatives, in Grammar are those sort of Verbs which express a gradual proceeding in any action. 1691 W. Nichols Answ. Naked Gospel 15, I do not think we are so much credulous, as these sort of Gentlemen are saucy. 1718 Entertainer No. 14. 94 These sort of Mortals are generally..prepossess'd with a good opinion of themselves. 1798 C. Smith Yng. Philos. II. 29 These sort of details gave my poor father great delight. 1814 Syd. Smith in Lady Holland Mem. (1855) II. 113, I rather suppose it is too far from town for these sort of engagements. 1857 Trollope Barchester T. xxxiv, ‘Those sort of rules are all gone by now,’ said Mr. Arabin. 1872 Ruskin Fors Clav. xxi. 19 What?..do those sort of people know what love is? |
b. With plural verbs or pronouns. Now rare.
| 1568 Grafton Chron. II. 99 The yonger sort of y⊇ Monkes there gathered themselues together at midnight. 1632 Lithgow Trav. v. 206 The best sort of Mahometans..call themselues Musilmans. 1647 F. Bland Souldiers March 36 There are yet another sort of Enemies [etc.]. c 1671 Locke in Ld. King Life (1830) II. 284 There are a sort of propositions, passing under the title of maxims. 1704 N. N. tr. Boccalini's Advts. fr. Parnass. III. 227 They thought such sort of Showes were not fit to be seen. 1769 Burke Obs. late State Nation 119 There are a sort of middle tints and shades between the two extremes. 1804–6 Syd. Smith Mor. Philos. (1850) 110 Such sort of questions..are not merely innocent subtleties. |
c. With all. (Cf. 6 b.) Now rare or Obs.
| 1594 R. Ashley tr. Loys de Roy 10 b, The countrie..aboundeth with all sort of corne, flesh, and fruit. 1603 Reg. Mag. Sig. Scot. 514/2 For mettage of all sort of victuall sauld or mett within the said burgh. 1641 Tombes Leaven Phar. Wil-worship (1643) 14 Al sort of erroneous teachers, and licentious livers, were tolerated. 1709 Mrs. Manley Secret Mem. (1720) III. 121 With all Sort of Address, and artful seeming Sincerity. 1771 T. Hull Sir W. Harrington (1797) I. 42 The earl..has thought fit to drop all sort of correspondence with me. 1804 A. Seward Mem. Darwin 5 He..supplied their necessities by food, and all sort of charitable assistance. |
† d. With numerals or partitives. Obs.
| 1594 Nashe Dido 1381 Wks. (Grosart) VI. 62 A garden where are..Musk-roses, and a thousand sort of flowers. 1732 Arbuthnot Rules of Diet in Aliments, etc. (1735) 261 The Nature of most sort of animal Diet may be discovered by Taste and other sensible Qualities. |
8. a. In the phr. a sort of.., denoting that some thing, person, quality, etc., is, or may be, included in the specified class, although not typical of it or possessing all its characteristics; = ‘something in the nature of’. Cf. kind n. 14 c.
| 1703 De Foe in 15th Rep. Hist. MSS. Comm. App. IV. 62 Fleeing from her Majesty's justice is a sort of making war against her. 1726 Swift Gulliver Introd. Let., They use a sort of jabber, and do not go naked. 1780 Mirror No. 110, There is a sort of classic privilege in the very names of places in London. 1819 Scott Ivanhoe i, His legs were cased in a sort of gaiters. 1845 M. Pattison Ess. (1889) I. 14 A moral power..forcing from them a sort of recognition of its claims. 1853 Sorter [see jack-leg, jackleg a. and n.]. 1884 W. C. Smith Kildrostan 69 We are grown To be a sort of dandies in religion. |
b. So a (or some) sort of a{ddd}
| 1720 Shadwell Hasty Wedding ii. iv, I do think him but a sort of a, kind of a,..sort of a Gentleman. 1766 C. Beatty Tour (1768) 28 We..put up at some sort of a public house. 1823 Scott Quentin D. xxxi, The richest heiress in Burgundy has confessed a sort of a—what was I going to say? 1846–9 S. R. Maitland Ess., etc. 47 Bishop Burnet is even kind enough to make a sort of an excuse for Sir Thomas More. |
c. (a) sort of, o', a, sorter, used adverbially: In a way or manner; to some extent or degree, somewhat; in some way, somehow. Hence passing into use as a parenthetic qualifier expressing hesitation, diffidence, or the like, on the speaker's part; also (only in the full form sort of) following the statement it qualifies. Chiefly dial. and colloq.
| 1790 Mrs. Wheeler Westmld. Dial. (1821) 63 Its a fine ewnin but its a sort a caad. 1839 Marryat Diary Amer. Ser. i. II. 218, I bees a sorter courted, and a sorter not; reckon more a sorter yes than a sorter no. 1858 Pirie Inq. Hum. Mind i. 10 One is a sort of bewildered in attempting to discover what it really is which constitutes the obligation. |
| 1833 J. Hall Legends West 50 It sort o' stirs one up to hear about old times. 1858 Hughes Scour. White Horse ii. 34 He was sort of proud of them. 1870 B. Harte Luck of Roaring Camp 11 The rosewood cradle..had, in Stumpy's way of putting it, ‘sorter killed the rest of the furniture’. |
| 1903 G. B. Shaw Man & Superman ii. 67 I'll sort of borrow the money from my dad until I get on my own feet. 1930 A. Bennett Imperial Palace lxiii. 509, I don't believe they sort of understand English people, Italians don't. 1949 Granta Christmas 43/2 One of us had to do a big strong man to sort of separate them. 1952 B. Malamud Natural 126, I hoped she would straighten him out and sorta hold him in the team. 1958 [see bugger v. 2 c]. 1973 Art Internat. Mar. 68/1, I sort of use music as a connection to more of the things I want to be about. 1976 National Observer (U.S.) 25 Sept. 17/1 He calls it the ‘Icarus Human-Powered Aircraft.’ ‘It's sort of a cumbersome name.’ |
| 1923 J. Manchon Le Slang 283 They hung back in their breeching sort-of, ils s'appuyaient sur l'avaloir, si je puis dire. 1952 M. Laski Village xv. 206 It just happened, sort of, and we couldn't either of us help it. 1959 Psychiatry XXII. 293/1 Except I feel like, well, what you're doing anyway is just sitting here and saying all these things just to tease me and to taunt me, sort of. 1976 National Observer (U.S.) 28 Feb. 21/4 And it is all those things, sort of; and yet it is a really fine book. |
d. in a sort of (sorta) way, imperfectly; not exactly, absolutely, or properly.
| 1875 Jowett Plato (ed. 2) I. 36 The impossibility of a man knowing in a sort of way that which he does not know at all. 1892 T. Hardy Well-Beloved i. viii, ‘I advised you to go back, Marcie.’ ‘In a sort of way: not in the right tone.’ 1967 E. & M. A. Radford No Reason for Murder xvii. 115 ‘He ain't a'goin’ to come to life agin, guv'nor.’.. ‘I dunno... Mebbe he might—in a sorta way.’ |
9. no sort of.., used as an emphatic negative phrase to denote the complete absence of anything of the kind specified.
| 1736 Butler Anal. i. ii. Wks. 1874 I. 46 There is no sort of ground for being thus presumptuous. 1770 Langhorne Plutarch (1879) II. 634/2 No sort of harmony could exist between them. 1852 Thackeray Esmond iii. xii, The great majority had no sort of inkling of the transaction pending. 1884 Manch. Exam. 25 Feb. 4/7 On the part of many, the inclination to work bears no sort of proportion to the inclination to talk. |
10. a. that or this sort of thing, used to denote in a general way a thing, quality, etc., of a like or similar nature to that specified.
| 1848 Thackeray Van. Fair lxv, She is very unhappy, and—and that sort of thing. Ibid. lxvi, ‘Pooh! damn; don't let us have this sort of thing!’ Jos cried out,..anxious to get rid of a scene. 1889 Jerome Three Men in Boat 103, I would..lead a blameless, beautiful life,..and all that sort of thing. |
b. sort of thing, used adverbially to indicate the inexactness or indefiniteness of the preceding words. Cf. sense 8 c above. colloq.
| 1935 E. Raymond We, the Accused v. ii. 572 What he doesn't know about the law isn't worth knowing, sort of thing. 1968 Guardian 24 Apr. 9/2, I don't just give him a sharp slap in temper, sort of thing. 1979 A. Fox Threat Warning Red xi. 161 A dummy run. Only go through the motions, sort of thing. |
*** In elliptic or absolute use.
11. a. A particular class, order, or rank of persons.
| 1529 More Dyalogue iv. Wks. 287/2 That man..that would rather send his soule with such a sort as these be, than with all those holy saintes. 1572 J. Jones Bathes of Bathes Ayde Ep. Ded. a ij, Hieronymus Montuus..affirmeth that of all sortes, Phisike is to bee embraced. 1608 Dod & Cleaver Expos. Prov. xi-xii. 128 The one sort are led by the worde and spirit of God,..the other are led by the flesh, and Sathan. 1667 Milton P.L. vi. 376 The other sort in might though wondrous.., Nameless in dark oblivion let them dwell. 1812 Miss Mitford in L'Estrange Life (1870) I. 172 The first sort cannot go upon a water-party but you must read an account of it in three full sheets. 1871 Legrand Cambr. Freshm. 295 His lordship added,..they weren't his sort, and he should not have anything to do with 'em. 1878 Browning Poets Croisic 44 All sorts and conditions that stood by..bore witness to the prophecy. |
b. With defining or distinguishing adj. (usu. in the comparative). Also (in phr. the right sort) with ref. to one person.
Freq. from c 1550 to c 1650; now somewhat rare.
| 1548 Turner Names Herbes (E.D.S.) 33 Daphnoides, called of the commune sort Laureola. 1549 Allen Par. Revel. St. John 11 The spirituall sort, which haue their lyuynge of the gospel, wherunto they are the most extreme enemyes,..a thousande partes more than the secular and laye sorte. 1576 Gascoigne Steele Gl. (Arb.) 82 The yonger sorte, come pyping on apace,..The elder sorte, go stately stalking on. 1611 Bible Transl. Pref. ¶2 This is the lot and portion of the meaner sort onely. 1655 Stanley Hist. Philos. i. (1687) 26/1 Laws are like Cobwebs which entangle the lesser sort, the greater break through. a 1715 Burnet Own Time (1766) I. 295 Sometimes they were fined and the younger sort whipped about the streets. 1760–2 Goldsm. Cit. W. xv, The better sort here pretend to the utmost compassion for animals of every kind. 1842 Mrs. Gore Fascination 15 You are one of the right sort. 1853 Hickie tr. Aristoph. (1872) II. 691 The better sort do not ask for money. c 1863 T. Taylor Ticket-of-Leave Man iii. 43 But don't look glum, Bob, you're the right sort, you are. 1883 Daily News 11 Sept. 3/1 A little knot of those formerly called emphatically ‘the right sort’. 1914 G. B. Shaw Fanny's First Play i. 173 But hes the right sort: I can see that. 1936 [see right a. 8 d]. |
c. So a (bad, good, etc.) sort, applied to a single person. colloq.
| c 1869 Taylor & Dubourg New Men & Old Acres i. 10 Fanny Bunter—in spite of her Ruskinism-run-mad—isn't half a bad sort. 1875 W. Reade Outcast 202 Our host told us the old woman was his mother, and we musn't [sic] mind her being cross, she being a real good sort all the same. 1882 J. Sturgis Dick's Wandering III. iv. xlii. 82 They cursed and said that Dick was a good sort. 1891 C. Roberts Adrift Amer. 165 On the whole he was not a bad sort. |
d. Proverb. it takes all sorts to make a world; also ellipt. it takes all sorts.
| [1620 T. Shelton tr. Cervantes' Hist. Don Quixote ii. vi. 34 In the world there must bee of all sorts. 1767 Johnson Let. 17 Nov. (1952) I. 194 The World, says Locke, has people of all sorts.] 1844 D. W. Jerrold Story of Feather xxviii. 161 Click can't get off this time?.. Well, it takes all sorts to make a world. 1908 K. Grahame Wind in Willows iv. 89 The Wild Wood is pretty well populated..with all the usual lot, good, bad, and indifferent... It takes all sorts to make a world. 1940 [see coin v.1 5 d]. 1951 E. Coxhead One Green Bottle i. 35 ‘I daresay it takes all sorts—’ conceded Harry vaguely. 1965 J. Fleming Nothing is Number when you Die ii. iii. 68 She shrugged. ‘It takes all sorts, you know.’ 1975 J. I. M. Stewart Young Pattullo iii. 71 ‘My father's a banker during the week and a country gent at week-ends. Takes all sorts you know.’ ‘Takes all sorts?’ ‘To make a world.’ |
e. A girl or young woman; a girl-friend. (Predominantly in male use.) slang (orig. Austral.).
| 1933 F. Clune Try Anything Once 93 ‘Look here, George,’ I said. ‘Lend me a suit of civvies. I've got to meet a great little sort, and her father has a dead nark on soldiers.’ 1953 T. A. G. Hungerford Riverslake 144 Felix came in after tea and said that his sort could come. 1968 K. Denton Walk around my Cluttered Mind 137 They'd told me, ‘Don't worry about bringing anything except a bottle. The sorts are laid on.’ Even after only ten months I understood this to mean that there would be feminine company. 1970 Daily Progress (Charlottesville, Va.) 7-c/3 He [sc. a skinhead in the U.K.] wants only to drink, go out with ‘sorts’, another word for girls, perhaps take pep pills or marijuana. 1972 A. Draper Death Penalty ii. 13 Ben..drove..to pick up Jeannie—his ‘sort’ or ‘gimpy’. For that was how he described his girl friend. |
12. a. A kind, variety, etc., of thing(s).
| 1523 Fitzherb. Husb. §134 Than sorte the trees, the polles by them-selfe, the myddel sorte by them-selfe. 1567 J. Maplet Gr. Forest 2 One of those sortes that is easie to engraue in. 1577 B. Googe Heresbach's Husb. ii. (1586) 49 Whereas the Hearbes and Trees are seuered euery sort in their due place. 1633 Gerarde's Herbal iii. xcv. 1448 These fiue sorts; the common, the long,..and the early aprecocke. 1690 Locke Hum. Und. iii. iii. (1695) 231 Things are ranked under Names into Sorts or Species, only as they agree to certain abstract Ideas, to which we have annexed those Names. 1776 Cowper Let. 12 Nov., One to whom fish is so welcome..can have no great occasion to distinguish the sorts. 1842 Loudon Suburban Hort. 643 According to the richness of the soil and the vigour of the sort. 1861 Dickens Gt. Expect. v, May you live a thousand years, and never be a worse judge of the right sort. |
b. all sorts, in colloquial or idiomatic uses; as n.: see all E. 13.
| 1794 Mrs. Radcliffe Myst. Udolpho xxxi, There they were, all drinking Tuscany wine and all sorts. 1839 Hood Our Village 23 There's a shop of all sorts, that sells every thing. 1863 Mrs. Hawthorne in N. Hawthorne & Wife (1885) II. 331, I hope to hear about papa's visit to Rockport, and ‘all sorts’, as dear Mrs. Browning used to say. 1900 Westm. Gaz. 14 Mar. 1/3 Asking how it was possible to have complete transport in stock for an Empire of ‘all sorts’ like this. |
13. † a. pl. Spices. Obs.—1
| 1530 in Whitaker Hist. Craven (1812) 306 Item 2 pounds of sorts of Portugal. |
b. Typog. One or other of the characters or letters in a fount of type. Usu. in pl.
| 1668–9 in Cent. Typogr. Univ. Press, Oxford (1900) 156 Then you will perceiue what sorts your worke runns most vpon and so you must cast ouer such sorts. 1683 Moxon Mech. Exerc., Printing 391 The Letters..in every Box of the Case are..called Sorts in Printers and Founders Language; Thus a is a Sort, b is a Sort. 1771 Luckombe Hist. Print. 248 For example, c, i, m, p, q, u, being Latin Sorts, might be more sparingly cast. 1784 Franklin in Bigelow Life (1881) III. 256 The founts, too, must be very scanty, or strangely out of sorts. 1808 C. Stower Printers' Gram. 54 The expense..in casting a fount of letter with such a number of heavy sorts will be considerable. Ibid. 60 The upper case sorts... The lower case sorts. 1839 Hansard Print. & Type-founding (1841) 82 Capital letters, figures, accented letters, particular sorts, &c. 1888 Jacobi Printers' Vocab. 128 Sorts, the general term applied to any particular letter or letters as distinguished from a complete fount. |
14. out of sorts: a. Not in the usual or normal condition of good health or spirits; in a low-spirited, irritable, or peevish state, esp. through physical discomfort; slightly unwell.
| 1621 S. Ward Life of Faith 46, I wonder..to see one..that knowes all must worke for the best, to be at any time out of tune, or out of sorts. 1642 D. Rogers Naaman 98 But now..being defeated, he is out of sorts, and chuseth rather..to goe away, than to be cured thereby. 1702 S. Parker tr. Cicero's De Finibus App. 360 When our Affairs are discouraging,..we must be at least proportionably Unhappy, and out of Sorts. 1775 Burney Early Diary (1889) II. 42 He was extremely out of sorts because there was some company in the room who did not please him. 1801 Ld. Cornwallis in Ld. Stanhope Life Pitt (1862) III. xxxi. 354, I am myself out of sorts, lowspirited, and tired of everything. 1857 Dickens Dorrit ii. xiii, I am weary and out of sorts to night. 1871 G. H. Napheys Prev. & Cure Dis. ii. i. 356 The child which is only out of sorts frets itself. |
| transf. 1815 Scott Guy M. xliv, One of the bed-posts..was broken down, so that the tester and curtains hung forward into the middle of the narrow chamber... ‘Never mind that being out o' sorts, Captain.’ 1873 Browning Red Cotton Night-Cap Country 711 A sense that something is amiss, Something is out of sorts in the display. |
b. In literal sense: Out of or without certain kinds of articles or goods. Also transf.
| 1670 Ray Prov. 225 Many a man..coming home from far voyages, may chance to land here, and being out of sorts, is unable for the present time..to recruit himself with clothes. 1675 V. Alsop Anti-sozzo 278 Their unhappiness is, they have not so vast a Stock to set up with, and some⁓times may be out of Sorts. Ibid. 520 He may upon these principles, coyn as many several sorts..of justifying Faith, as he can possibly spend in seven years time; and as he grows out of sorts, he may stamp as many more. |
† 15. Without article: a. Rank, class. Obs.
| 1671 Milton Samson 1608 With seats where all the Lords and each degree Of sort, might sit in order to behold. |
† b. in sort, in various kinds; in variety. Obs.
| 1756 M. Calderwood in Coltness Collect. (Maitland Club) 225 As for timber things and kitchen things in sort, smith and wright work were all to sell ready made. |
16. that's your sort (also dial. sorts), as a term of approbation. slang.
| 1792 Holcroft Road to Ruin v. i, That's your sort! 1793 European Mag. XXIII. 307 A sly old dame, long used to scenes of sport, Cocks her one eye, and snuffles, ‘That's your sort’. 1825 Jamieson Suppl. s.v., That's your sorts! an exclamation used when one is highly pleased with an action or thing. Aberd[een]. 1865 Slang Dict. 240 Pitch it into him, that's your sort. |
II. † 17. a. A number of persons associated together in some way; a band, company, group, or set of persons (or animals). Obs.
In this and the next group not always clearly distinct from senses 6 and 11–12.
| c 1400 Destr. Troy 3713 The Dukes were drounet, & oþer dere folke. All the sort þat hom suet sunkyn to ground. 1489 Skelton Death Earl Northumbld. 212 The heuenly yerarchy, With all the hole sorte of that glorious place. 1500–20 Dunbar Poems lxxvii. 46 That seimlie sort, in ordour weill besein, Did meit the quein. a 1547 Surrey æneid iv. 276 Paris now with his unmanly sorte. 1583 T. Stocker Civ. Warres Lowe C. i. 2 One sorte of them was burnt, another sort hanged, the thirde drowned, and the fourth sorte had no more hurt but their heades cut off. 1612 W. Sclater Sick Soul's Salve 3 An other sort there are, and they as heavily complaine. |
† b. in sort, on a sort, in a body or company. in sort with, in common with. Obs.
| c 1400 Destr. Troy 4326 Nawther cercumsiset sothely in sort with the Jewes, Ne comyn with cristenmen. a 1400–50 Alexander 1555 All þe cite in sorte felowis him eftir. a 1536 Songs, Carols, etc. (E.E.T.S.) 106, I shall you tell a full good sport, How gossippis gader them on a sort. 1590 Shakes. Mids. N. iii. ii. 21 As..russet-pated choughes, many in sort.., Seuer themselues. |
c. Const. of (persons or animals).
Common from c 1520 to 1650; now arch.
| 1509 Hawes Past. Pleasure xxvii. (Percy Soc.) 129 To beholde so fayre and good a sorte Of goodly knyghtes. 1542 Udall Erasm. Apoph. 106 A sorte of young striepleynges standing about Diogenes. 1598 B. Jonson Ev. Man in Hum. i. v, I was requested to supper, last night, by a sort of gallants. c 1611 Chapman Iliad iv. 460 The Trojans, like a sort of ewes penn'd in a rich man's fold. 1676 Life Father Sarpi in Brent's Counc. Trent 28 In the Merchants Street there used to meet a sort of gallant and vertuous Gentlemen to recount their Intelligences, one with another. 1687 Dryden Hind & P. iii. 946 A sort of Doves were housed too near their hall. |
| 1828 Scott F.M. Perth iv, Here are a sort of knaves breaking peace within burgh. 1865 Swinburne Chast. i. i. (1894) 7 What a sort of men Crowd all about the squares! 1880 Webb Goethe's Faust i. ii. 57 A soldier, with a sort of gallants round him. |
† d. all the sort of (you, etc.), every one. Obs.
| 1535 Coverdale Job xvi. 1 Miserable geuers of comforte are ye, all the sorte of you. 1549 Coverdale, etc. Erasm. Par. 1 John 42 Traunsgressions..doone awaye all the sorte of them by the precious blood of his sonne. 1561 T. Hoby tr. Castiglione's Courtyer iii. (1577) R vj b, Ye are all the sort of you too great Clearkes in loue. |
† e. A collection, parcel, set, etc., of things.
| 1563 Homilies ii. Agst. Parell Idol. iii. T t iij, By the space of a sort of hundreth yeares. 1584 Peele Arraignm. Paris i. ii, Thou hast a sort of pretty tales in store, Dare say no nymph in Ida woods hath more. 1606 Chapman Gent. Usher i. i. 173, I hope youle then stand like a sort of blocks. |
18. a. A (great, good, etc.) number or lot of persons or things; a considerable body or quantity; a multitude.
Common from c 1530 to 1600; now dial.
| c 1475 Mankind 257 in Macro Plays 10 We xall cum euery⁓chon, Mo þen a goode sorte. ? 1530 Tindale Exp. Matt. Prol. 5 b, A great sorte are so feable þat they can nether go forwarde in theyr profession & purpose, nor yet stande. 1551 Turner Herbal i. I ij b, If one be set alone..their wil a great sorte within a shorte space growe of that same roote. 1600 Holland Livy xxviii. xi. 676 A great sort were compelled..to repaire againe into their country habitations. 1650 Stapylton Strada's Low C. Wars v. 117 A great sort were drawn in, with the tunes set to the Psalmes, translated..into French meeter. 1796 W. H. Marshall Yorksh. (ed. 2) II. 346 Sort, many; ‘a good soort’, a great many. 1855 [Robinson] Whitby Gloss. s.v., There was a good soort there. |
† b. Const. of (persons or things). Obs.
Common c 1550–1630, esp. of persons.
| 1529 More Dyalogue i. Wks. 106/2 Of which two thinges I coulde out of..holy saintes workes gether a good sorte. 1535 Coverdale Jer. xliv. 15 All the men..& a greate sorte off wyues that stode there. 1578 Timme Calvin on Gen. 60 The Lord had..enriched him with an innumerable sorte of benefits. 1600 Abbot Jonah 617 Young and old, male and female of reasonable creatures, to a very great sort of thousands. 1637 R. Ashley tr. Malvezzi's David Persecuted 257 A great sort of men offend their God in their prosperity, and pray unto him in their adversity. 1681 W. Robertson Phraseol. Gen. s.v., A great sort of Ships came from all parts. |
19. In the same sense as prec. without qualifying adjective. Now dial.
| 1548 in Strype Ann. Ref. (1824) VI. 315 If the world shal turn, A sort of you shal burn. 1564 Becon Wks. I. Pref. A v b, Your wisedomes see, what a sort of vnmete men labour dayly to runne hedlong vnto the ministery. 1597 Middleton Wisd. Solomon xiv. 26 See what a sort of rebels are in arms. 1823 E. Moor Suffolk Words, A sort of loads. 1825 Brockett N.C. Gloss., Sort, a lot, a parcel, a number. |
† 20. a. A (great, etc.) part or portion of a number of persons or things. Obs.
| 1566 Painter Pal. Pleas. II. 55 But the greatest soart of the litle infants were slaine out of hand. 1600 Holland Livy v. i, He tooke from them the very plaiers and actors, whereof a great sort were his own servants. 1632 Lithgow Trav. ii. 70 The greater sort of her mercenary sexe. 1669 Sturmy Mariner's Mag., Penalties 7 If any..Person..shall permit any sort of the Package therein to be opened, imbezeled, or altered. |
† b. by a great sort, by a great deal; by much. Obs.—1
| 1579 J. Stubbes Gaping Gulf C vij, More loanes of hundred powndes, forty pounds, twenty pounds,..then were euer payd agayn by a great sort. |
III. Manner, method, or way.
21. In phrases with in: a. Qualified by demonstratives or similar words, as in this, that, such, (the) like, what, etc., sort. Now arch.
Most of these are common from c 1550.
| 1533 Bellenden Livy ii. xi. (S.T.S.) I. 169 Thir tithingis movit þe faderis & commouns in diuers maner and sortis. 1560 J. Daus tr. Sleidane's Comm. 350 b, They can fynde none that wyll go in that sorte. 1577 B. Googe Heresbach's Husb. i. (1586) 10, I thought in the like sort the wheele of a mill myght be turned. 1601 J. Wheeler Treat. Comm. 75 In what sort can her Maiesty.. tolerate or suffer that [etc.]? 1670 Dryden Conq. Granada i. i. i, If we treat gallant strangers in this sort, Mankind will shun the inhospitable court. 1713 Guardian No. 1 ¶1 Not without some hope of having my Vanity..indulged in the sort above⁓mentioned. 1782 Cowper Gilpin 93 His horse, who never in that sort Had handled been before. 1800 Wordsw. Michael 207 While in this sort the simple household lived From day to day. 1866 Neale Sequences & Hymns 11 But in other sort, that midnight round their watch-fires' blaze they feast. 1871 Freeman Norm. Conq. IV. xviii. 287 Stores of corn..men brought together and destroyed in the like sort. |
b. With distinguishing adj., as in good, honest, etc., sort. Now rare. † Sometimes with a, any, some, this, etc.
| (a) 1548 Geste Pr. Masse 81 Yf the signe be counterfayt and fayned, then nedes must the thing be in semblable sorte whyche is betokened. 1585 T. Washington tr. Nicholay's Voy. ii. v. 35, I haue not seen..a nation..which studieth more in all honest sorte to obtayne the fauour of straungers. 1600 Hakluyt Voy. (1810) III. 568 Wherein is showed in what good sort we liued with our masters. 1634 Sir T. Herbert Trav. 79 Hee speedily affronted the Georgians, who receiued him in warlike sort. 1657 Sparrow Bk. Com. Prayer (1661) 42 He which prays in due sort, is..made the more attentive. 1713 Swift Faggot Wks. 1755 IV. i. 8 Stewards..who in solemn sort Appear with slender wands at court. 1784 Cowper Task vi. 377 Each animal..growl'd defiance in such angry sort, As taught him, too, to tremble in his turn. 1813 Scott Trierm. ii. xviii, The champions, arm'd in martial sort. 1863 Patmore Angel in Ho. II. i. x, According to such nuptial sort As may subsist in the holy court. |
| (b) 1592 Kyd Sp. Trag. ii. i. 100 Giue me notice in some secret sort. 1594 Marlowe & Nashe Dido i. i, To wear Their bow and quiver in this modest sort. 1642 D. Rogers Naaman 29 Jehoram,..who sent a cursed messenger before him..(met in a holy sort before God in the judgement of famine). a 1704 T. Brown Two Oxford Scholars (1730) I. 9 He did not know how to maintain himself and his family in any tolerable sort. |
c. in some sort, in a certain undefined or unknown way; to some extent or degree. Freq. in parenthetic use.
| 1556 Aurelio & Isab. (1608) H iij, The ladies leaste experimentede and wittey be in some sorte the chasteste. 1597 Morley Introd. Mus. Ded., To notifie vnto your selfe in some sort the entire loue..which I beare vnto you. 1615 W. Lawson Country Housew. Gard. (1626) 7 The Sunne (in some sort) is the life of the world. 1653 H. More Antid. Ath. Pref., For it is the same Numen in us that moves all things in some sort or other. 1711 Steele Spect. No. 52 ¶3 Our personal Deformities in some sort by you recorded to all Posterity. 1780 Mirror No. 97, Having seen Paris,..she thinks that she is authorised, and, in some sort, obliged to speak French. 1865 Dickens Mut. Fr. i. vi, She was named after, or in some sort related to, the Abbey at Westminster. 1894 J. T. Fowler Adamnan Introd. 17 The Christian hierarchy..in some sort succeeded to the Druids and the Brehons. |
d. in a sort, in some sort or manner (see prec.); occas. with implication of inefficiency or inadequacy. † Also in sort.
| 1585 in Eng. Hist. Rev. Jan. (1913) 55 note, So many reasons..did in a sort work in me a confirmation [etc.]. 1592 Kyd Sp. Trag. iii. v. 17, I am in a sorte sorie for thee. a 1619 M. Fotherby Atheom. ii. xi. §5 (1622) 319 Which carried him vp, in a sorte, into Heauen. c 1643 Ld. Herbert Autobiog. (1824) 62 In Law also the Judge is in a sort superior to his King. 1710 Steele Tatler No. 14 ¶2 The Criminal..was always sure he stood before his Country, and in a Sort before a Parent of it. 1788 Pict. Tour thro' Pts. Europe 3 A garden..wherein the enchantments of that of Armida seem in sort to be realized. 1825 Scott Jrnl. 6 Dec., H.M...shoots and fishes in a sort even to this day. 1874 Blackie Self-Cult. 72 Our only chance of becoming great in a sort is by participation in the greatness of the universe. |
† e. in no sort, in no way, to no extent, not at all. Obs.
| 1570–6 Lambarde Peramb. Kent (1826) 215 They are in no sorte to be hearde, seeing that by no means they may iustly claime any manner of right in that lande. a 1625 Jas. I Ps. xxiii. 4 Yea, though I through death's shadow walke, Yet feare I in no sort. 1676 Hale Contempl. i. 5 The consideration of our latter end doth in no sort make our lives the shorter. 1708 Swift Sacram. Test Wks. 1755 II. i. 131 These are, in no sort, a number to carry any point. 1756 C. Lucas Ess. Waters III. 70 They will in no sort mix. |
† f. in sort, followed by as or that. Obs.
| 1548 Geste Pr. Masse 83 Gelasius..impugneth the sayd transubstanciation as..uncredyble in sorte as followeth. 1594 Carew Huarte's Exam. Wits vi. (1596) 84 To remaine..affixed, in sort as the sparrowes are attached to birdlime. 1605 Bacon Adv. Learn. ii. 91 In all causes the first tale possesseth much, in sorte, that the preiudice thereby wrought will bee hardly remooued. |
† g. in all sorts, altogether, completely. Obs.—1
| 1559 in Tytler Hist. Scot. (1864) III. 395 Your good mind,..which as it is in all sorts undeserved on my side, so am I the more affected unto you therefor. 1611 Cotgr., Totalement, totally,..throughly, in all sorts, altogether. |
22. after this, what, etc., sort, after a (..) sort, in the preceding senses.
| (a) 1551 Robinson tr. More's Utopia i. (1895) 61 After what sorte hooredome..maye be lawfull. 1569 J. Sandford tr. Agrippa's Van. Artes 15 b, After this sorte the Greeke Historiographers..would attribute al thinges to themselves. 1577 B. Googe Heresbach's Husb. ii. (1586) 57 b, The ordering of them is after one sort. 1604 E. G[rimstone] D'Acosta's Hist. Indies iv. iv. 212 They drawe golde in those partes, after three sorts. |
| (b) 1551 Robinson tr. More's Utopia ii. (1895) 132 But nowe the houses be curiously builded, after a gorgiouse and gallaunt sort. 1577 Hanmer Anc. Eccl. Hist., Euseb. i. vi. (1663) 7 It remaineth that we begin after a compendious sort from the coming of our Saviour Christ in the Flesh. 1592 Timme Ten Eng. Lepers A iij, The generall good..hath moved me, though after a plaine and rude sort, to publish the same. 1857 S. Winkworth tr. Life Tauler 67 The Master..received him after a most friendly sort. a 1894 C. Rossetti Venus' Looking-glass Poems (1904) 289 Around whose head white doves rose..and cooed after their tender sort. |
| (c) 1557 N. T. (Geneva) Heb. xi. 19 Death: from whence he receaued him also after a sort. 1581 E. Campion in Conf. iii. (1584) Z, Man is also the offerer, after a sort. 1610 Holland Camden's Brit. (1637) 632 After a sort he surrendered up his Crowne unto him. 1671 H. M. tr. Erasm. Colloq. 7 Not so well as I desire; truly I am well after a sort. 1724 A. Collins Gr. Chr. Relig. 153 The first place of Jeremiah was quoted,..and is still extant after a sort. 1837 Carlyle Fr. Rev. ii. ii. ii, Captain Dampmartin,..who loves the Reign of Liberty, after a sort. 1879 S. C. Bartlett Egypt to Pal. xii. 267 Into which the hand, with shut fingers, will fit after a sort. |
† 23. a. of this sort, in this way or manner. Sc. Obs. rare.
| 1549 Compl. Scot. vi. 38 Of this sort i did spaceir vp ande doune but sleipe. Ibid. ix. 79 Of this sort god turnit the hazard of fortoune. |
† b. So on such (a) sort, on this sort. Obs.
| 1557 Tottel's Misc. (Arb.) 136 Happy is he, that liues on such a sort: That nedes not feare such tonges of false report. 1585–6 Reg. Privy Council Scot. Ser. i. IV. 50 The saidis personis..on sic sorte persewis the saidis complenaris as thay dar not remane at thair awne duelling houssis. 1597 Beard Theatre God's Judgem. (1612) 191 Permitting him to plague him on this sort, for his amendment. a 1632 T. Taylor God's Judgem. i. ii. iv. (1642) 170 But to come to the fact, it was on this sort. |
† c. at all sorts, at all points. Obs.—1
| 1612 W. Shute tr. Fougasses' Venice iv. vii. II. 13 A thousand Archers from Candy, and another thousand armed at all sortes from the Country of Albania. |
▪ III. † sort, n.3 Obs. rare.
Also sortt, soortt.
[Perh. identical with prec.]
Some measure or weight of figs and raisins.
By Rogers (Agric. & Prices IV. 668–9) considered to be equivalent to three frails.
| 1438–9 Durham Acc. Rolls (Surtees) 70 It. in ij Sortez ficuum et racemorum. Ibid. 77 Summa rec., ij Sortez et xx lb. 1453–4 Ibid. 289 In j soortt ficuum. 1481–90 Howard Househ. Bks. (Roxb.) 351 Item, for a sort of fygges, xij. s. |
▪ IV. sort, n.4 Computers.
(sɔːt)
[f. sort v.1 II.]
a. The action of arranging items of data in a prescribed sequence.
| 1956 Jrnl. Assoc. Computing Machinery III. 156 Seven passes will effect a complete sort but an eighth pass will be required to collect the items back on to one reel of tape. 1964 C. Dent Quantity Surveying by Computer vi. 79 The effect of this sort..will be to arrange the narrative items under their proper headings. 1973 Computers & Humanities VII. 202 We decided to remove the umlauts before performing the sort. |
b. Special Comb.: sort key, a characteristic feature of items of data according to which the data may be arranged; sort program, a program written to perform a sort; sort routine, a routine written to perform a sort.
| 1967 D. G. Hays Introd. Computational Linguistics x. 171 The sort has brought together all the contextual spans with a common sort key. Print the first sort key in some obvious place... Then begin printing the contextual spans with that sort key, one after another. 1969 Computers & Humanities III. 137 Each letter group, plus the word from which it was derived and the frequency of occurrence of that word..is then sorted in alphabetical order using the letter group as the first sortkey and the position of the first letter of each group..as the second sortkey. |
| 1963 Communications Assoc. Computing Machinery VI. 266/2 The tape merging program initially determines an optimum number of merge passes for merging the sorted files produced by the sort program. 1973 Computers & Humanities VII. 203 The ibm sort program..handled eight fields of character or numerical data. |
| 1964 C. Dent Quantity Surveying by Computer vi. 79 If we rearrange the keyword so that the trade and heading numbers occupy the most significant position, a standard sort routine with four decks will sort the blocks into the order specified by the trade number plus the heading number. 1969 Computers & Humanities III. 137 The letter concordance program accepts the keyword output of the concordance program and generates sort records. These are then sorted by a standard sort routine. |
▪ V. sort, v.1
(sɔːt)
Also 5 soortyn, 5–7 sorte, 6 sourt, 9 dial. soort, etc.
[Partly ad. L. sortīrī to divide or obtain by lot, or OF. sortir (mod.F. sortir, = It. sortire, Pg. sortir; cf. Pg. and Sp. sortear):—pop. L. *sortīre, f. L. sors, sort- lot: see sort n.1 In most senses, however, closely related to sort n.2, and perh. partly repr. F. assortir assort v.]
I. † 1. a. trans. To allot, apportion, or assign. Usu. const. to, for, or with dat. of person. Obs.
| c 1374 Chaucer Troylus v. 1827 And forth he wente, shortly for to telle, Ther as Mercurie sorted him to dwelle. 1412–20 Lydg. Chron. Troy iii. 440 Of our expleit þe trouþe to reporte, For whiche part Mars list þe feld to sorte. 1561 Norton & Sackv. Gorboduc iv. ii, What cruell destenie, What frowarde fate hath sorted vs this chaunce? 1583 B. Melbancke Philotimus K j, How many sporting houres were sorted to the Astronomer C. Gallus. 1599 B. Jonson Cynthia's Rev. v. iii. [xi], How well Diana can distinguish times? And sort her censures? keeping to herself The doom of gods, leaving the rest to us! |
† b. To dispose, ordain, order (events). Also absol. Obs. rare.
| 1592 W. Wyrley Armorie 108 Thus coy fortune sourts, Some now aloft and then cast downe we see. 1594 Shakes. Rich. III, ii. iii. 36 All may be well; but if God sort it so, 'Tis more then we deserue or I expect. 1596 ― Merch. V. v. 132 But God sort all. |
† 2. intr. To exercise or perform divination. Obs.—1
| c 1450 Merlin ii. 39 Bringe hethir thy counsell, and the clerkes that sorted of this toure. |
† 3. trans. To distribute by lot. Obs. rare.
| 1513 Douglas æneid iii. viii. 7 We sort our airis, and chesis rowaris ilk deill. 1582 Stanyhurst æneis i. (Arb.) 34 Shee..toyls too pioners by drawcut lotterye sorteth. |
† 4. To obtain as one's lot; to share in, partake of. Obs. rare.
| 1474 Caxton Chesse iv. ii, Thus as in going out first into four poyntes he sorteth the nature of knyghtes. 1483 ― Gold. Leg. 209/2 He hath ronne thrououte alle the world and with his prechyng hath purged it and yet he hath not sorted [L. sortitus est] heuen. |
† 5. To arrive at, attain to, result in, or reach (an effect, end, etc.). Cf. sense 7 a. Obs.
| a 1548 Hall Chron., Edw. IV, 214 It was almost incredible to se what effect this new imaginacion..sorted and toke. 1593 Peele Edw. I, vi. vi, When the war of rebels sorts an end, None might be prince..But such a one as was their countryman. 1612 Shelton Quix. i. iii. xiii. (1620) I. 255 Bidding her to hope firmly, that our good just Desires would sort a wish'd and happy End. 1656 W. Coles Art Simpl. 4 Their Medicines oft-times sort not their wished, but sometimes contrary effects. |
† 6. a. intr. Of events, etc.: To come about, to fall or turn out, in a certain way or with a certain result. Obs.
| c 1477 Caxton Jason 113 Sorceries..and..enchantements, wherof thauenture of the shippe sorted as sayd is. 1589 Greene Tullies Love Wks. (Grosart) VII. 193 Promising all shoulde sort according vnto Lentulus minde. 1598 R. Grenewey Tacitus, Ann. xv. vi. (1622) 230 That to the Romans many things had sorted luckily, and some to the Parthians. 1609 Dekker Ravens Almanack Wks. (Grosart) IV. 241 Which sorted according to their expectations. 1626 Bacon Sylva §317 The Experiment sorted in this Manner. 1653 H. Cogan tr. Pinto's Trav. xxvii. 106 We had recourse to Mercy, which sorted well for us. |
† b. Similarly with out. Obs.
| 1581 Rich Farew. (1846) 130 Seyng the matter sorted out as she looked for. 1593 Marlowe Edw. II, ii. i, If all things sort out, as I hope they will. a 1637 N. Ferrar tr. Valdes' 110 Consid. (1638) 15 Having seen that..my determinations sorted out contrary to that which I determined. a 1656 Ussher Ann. (1658) 158 If things sorted out in this war, as he hoped they would. |
† c. To come to effect; to be successful. Obs.
| 1613 Purchas Pilgrimage ii. x. I. 137 Intending a plague to the men,..if their working had sorted. 1626 Bacon Sylva §351 It was tried in a Blowne Bladder..and it sorted not. Ibid. §380 Which is a thing of great profit, if it would sort: But vpon Triall..there followed no Effect. |
† 7. a. To come or attain to an end, conclusion, effect, etc. Obs. (Common c 1575–1650.)
| 1543–4 Act 35 Hen. VIII, c. 10 Whiche good and profitable purpose can not sorte to conclusion, nor take good effecte, without the ayde..of parliament. a 1548 Hall Chron., Hen. VII (1809) 498 The third request..never sorted to any effect or conclusion. 1582 N. Lichefield tr. Castanheda's Conq. E. Ind. i. 16 b, Their mischeuous enterprise, which had bene likely to haue..sorted to a sorrowful hap and euent. 1618 Weakest goeth to Wall I iij, I will forbeare my knowledge 'till I see To what effect this cause will sort unto. 1659 H. Thorndike Wks. (1846) II. 540 If there were nothing to help the tenor of such instruments, things contracted would hardly sort to effect. |
† b. To end in coming or leading to a specified result. Obs.
| 1586 A. Day Eng. Secretary ii. (1625) 91 Here is head, wit, mind and discretion, all sorting to one thing. 1598 Florio To Rdr. b ij, Let..the reapers of the fruites iudge betwixt vs whose paines hath sorted to best perfection. 1620 E. Blount Horæ Subs. 216 Euery mans own Method commonly sorteth best to his owne profit. 1624 Bp. R. Montagu Immed. Addr. 51 Were our desires granted vs,..it would sort vnto our hurt and vtter vndoing. |
† c. To turn out so as to answer or be agreeable to one's wish, desire, etc. Obs.
| 1592 Soliman & Pers. ii. i. 238 Gentlemen, each thing hath sorted to our wish. 1606 G. Woodcock Hist. Iustine i. 5 Thinking that..the thing would so come to passe, as..afterward sorted to their desired wish. 1650 Vaughan Anthroposophia 2 These Indeavours sorting not to my purpose, I quitted this Booke-businesse. |
† d. To fall to a person as a right or duty. Obs.
| 1622 Drayton Poly-olb. xxii. 634 To Salsbury it sorts the palm away to bear. a 1677 Barrow Serm. (1687) I. 142 The duties which upon that occasion are signified to concern people then, do no less now sort to us. |
8. trans. To answer or correspond to, to befit or suit. Now rare.
| 1587 Golding De Mornay Ep. Ded., Well sorting your high place and dignitie. 1603 Knolles Hist. Turks (1621) 360 Which not sorting his desire, the matter was again brought to parle. 1615 R. Brathwait Strappado (1878) 126 To imitate all formes, shapes, habits, tyres Suting the Court, and sorting his desires. 1882 H. S. Holland Logic & Life (1885) 12 Certain phenomena..which no other name suits or sorts. |
II. 9. a. trans. To arrange (things, etc.) according to kind or quality, or after some settled order or system; to separate and put into different sorts or classes; to classify; to assort.
| c 1358 [see sorting vbl. n.]. c 1440 Promp. Parv. 465/2 Soortyn, or settyn yn a soorte, sortior. 1482 Rolls of Parlt. VI. 221/2 That the Samon shuld be wele and truly pakked and sorted in the same vessells. 1483 Act 1 Rich. III, c. 8 Preamble, Greate quantite of Wolles..which ben sorted the better from the worse, barbed and clakked. 1523 Fitzherb. Husb. §134 Than sorte the trees, the polles by them-selfe, the myddel sorte by them-selfe. 1581 Mulcaster Positions xxxvii. (1887) 155 The maister..is no absolute potentate..to sorte mens children, as he liketh best. 1605 Heywood Know not me Wks. 1874 I. 285 Past eight a clock, and neither ware sorted, Nor shop swept. 1684 in 3rd Rep. Hist. MSS. Comm. 427/1 Wee have sorted what papers I could at present find. 1718 Free-thinker No. 11. 71 Letters of every Kind come..which I sort according to their different Complexions. 1765 Phil. Trans. LV. 206 Mr. Rouse..made a machine for sorting woollen thread upon the same principle with this. 1840 Marryat Poor Jack xlv, I found her..busy sorting a lot of old bottles. 1888 F. Hume Mme. Midas i. ii, When the office was empty, Slivers would go on sorting the scrip on his table. |
| absol. 1625 B. Jonson Staple of N. i. ii, They mannage all at home, and sort, and file, And seale the newes, and issue them. 1847 Jrnl. R. Agric. Soc. VIII. i. 7 The breed..was left to chance or the management of shepherds, with whom it could not be a matter of interest to sort or improve. |
b. Const. with advs. or preps., as asunder, in or into (sets or classes, etc.), etc.
| 1530 Palsgr. 725, I sorte a sonder the good from the badde, je esplusche. 1533 More Answ. Poysoned Bk. Wks. 1087/2 Al whych things I wil sort into theyr places. 1608 Willet Hexapla Exod. 604 The other two curtains were sorted fiue and sixe together. 1644 Milton Areop. (Arb.) 45 Those confused seeds which were impos'd on Psyche as an incessant labour to cull out, and sort asunder. 1688 Lett. conc. Present State Italy 99 The People are sorted in several Fraternities. 1885 Manch. Exam. 16 Mar. 5/2 A power of analysis..which would equip a mathematician is requisite to sort the material into order. |
† c. To separate or distinguish (from something else). Obs. rare.
| 1551 T. Wilson Logike (1580) 61 b, We open the doubtfulnesse..of some woorde or sentence, by makyng a distinction..and seuerally sortyng suche thynges, as then were thought to be euill set together. 1587 Fleming Contn. Holinshed III. 1349/2, I meane so as physicke is now taken separatelie from surgerie, and that part which onelie vseth the hand as it is sorted from the apothecarie. 1599 Shakes. Hen. V, iv. vii. 77 That we may wander ore this bloody field,..To sort our Nobles from our common men. |
10. a. To place in a class or sort; to give a place to; to classify. Also const. after, among, as, together.
| 1486 Bk. St. Albans, Hawking d iij, Thay [bells] be passing goode, for thay be wele sortid, well sownded. 1523 Skelton Garl. Laurel 1280 Why shulde she take shame That her goodly name..Shulde be set and sortyd, To be matriculate With ladyes of astate? 1581 Mulcaster Positions xxxvi. (1887) 135 That wittes well sorted be most ciuill. 1595 Locrine i. i. 136 If thou follow sacred virtue's lore Thou shalt be..Sorted among the glorious happy ones. 1613 Chapman Maske Inns Crt. Plays 1873 III. 92 After them were sorted two Cars Triumphall. 1626 Bacon Sylva §340 Mosse..may be better sorted as a Rudiment of Germination. 1687 Tillotson Barrow's Wks. I. Pref., The eight following Sermons are likewise sorted together. 1768–74 Tucker Lt. Nat. (1834) I. 124 Sorting them together in a manner not done before. |
b. Const. with.
| 1599 Davies Immort. Soul i. iii. (1714) 20 When she sorts Things present with Things past. 1607 Scholast. Disc. agst. Antichrist i. i. 50 The Crosse sorteth vs with the Papists, as much as the Garland sorted the Christians with the Pagans. 1669 Sturmy Mariner's Mag. vii. iv. 8 This Dial..should be sorted rather with the æquinoctial Dials, than with the Horizontal. a 1703 Burkitt On N.T. Mark xv. 37 It had been a sufficient disparagement to our Blessed Saviour to have been sorted with the best of men. 1876 Geo. Eliot Dan. Der. i, A bony, yellow, crab-like hand.., a hand easy to sort with the square gaunt face. |
11. a. With out. To take out, remove, or separate (certain sorts from others).
| 1534 More Comf. agst. Trib. ii. Wks. 1177/2 The tother kynde is thys whych I rehersed second, and sorttyng out the tother twayne, haue kepte it for the last. 1601 Dent Pathw. Heaven 259 Thirdly, let there be sorted out all Hypocrites..and cold Christians. 1728 Chambers Cycl. s.v. Herring, These..are carefully sorted out. 1790 Burke Fr. Rev. 187 They will sort out the good from the evil. 1868 Lockyer Guillemin's Heavens (ed. 3) 393 There has not yet been time to sort out the real from the apparent nebulæ. |
b. To choose or select in this way. Now rare or Obs.
| 1553 Bale Vocacyon in Harl. Misc. (Malh.) I. 330 God sorted me out, and appointed me from my mothers wombe. 1576 Fleming Panopl. Epist. 441 You shall viewe..comely shapes,..suche as be chosen, picked, and sorted out for the nonce. 1606 Day Ile Gulls i. iii, Sort out but fit time and opportunity. 1818 Scott Hrt. Midl. xxi, Few folk but mysell could hae sorted ye out a seat like this. |
c. To divide or separate into smaller parts, etc. Obs. rare.
| 1546 Bale Eng. Votaries i. (1560) 12 For of [= by] them..were the Iles of the Gentiles sorted out into regions. c 1582 T. Digges in Archaeol. XI. 230 That waste vnder the castle, which beinge sorted out into convenient streetes [etc.]. |
d. To arrange according to sort.
| 1713 Guardian No. 120 (1756) II. 143 Her faculties are employed in shuffling, cutting, dealing, and sorting out a pack of cards. 1852 Mrs. Stowe Uncle Tom's C. xii. 103 The other lady, sorting out some worsteds on her lap. 1862 Spencer First Princ. ii. xxi. §165 (1875) 468 The waves are ever sorting-out and separating the mixed materials against which they break. |
e. To reprimand (a person); to deal with (a person) by means of force, repression, etc. colloq.
| 1941 Baker Dict. Austral. Slang 69 Sort someone out, to, to reprove a person, put him in his place. 1943 Hunt & Pringle Service Slang 61 To pick a quarrel and use force is to ‘sort out’ someone. 1958 J. Blackburn Scent of New-Mown Hay ii. 24 Get this fellow Kirk sorted out and don't overdo it. 1965 P. Arrowsmith Jericho ix. 92 Let's all go down and sort out that peace pickets' camp. 1974 Times 25 Feb. 10/7 Richards came in to sort Willis out and, although Willis prevailed in the end, it was not before Richards had hit him several times for four. |
f. To separate out and resolve the complexities of (a problem); to clear up (a confusion or difficulty); to put to rights, deal with. Also, with a person as object: to solve the problems of (someone), ‘put (him) straight’. Also refl.
| 1948 ‘N. Shute’ No Highway v. 128 Will you see if you can get that one sorted out? 1954 J. Masters Bhowani Junction vi. 51 If I send a message, sort it out between Macaulay and that depilated Sikh assistant of Taylor's. 1962 Woman's Own 15 Sept. 69/2 Perhaps you haven't yet decided, assuming this is something which will sort itself out when the time comes. 1963 [see favour n. 2 b]. 1963 A. Ross Australia 63 17 The two Perth matches..allow the visiting side to sort themselves out. 1973 M. Amis Rachel Papers 46 No, don't tell me she's the very girl to show me what egotistical folly it is to compartmentalize people in this sad way; don't tell me she's going to sort me out, take me on, supply the cognitio and comic resolution. |
12. refl. a. To form sets or groups by some process of combination or separation.
| 1570–6 Lambarde Peramb. Kent (1826) 338 A Torneament..in which the English men, of a set purpose,..sorted them⁓selves against the strangers. 1601 Holland Pliny II. 238 For the most part they sort themselues by couples like man and wife. 1692 R. L'Estrange Josephus, Antiq. ii. v. (1733) 34 They had their times of talking, and sorting themselves together. 1726 De Foe Hist. Devil i. x. (1840) 132 The people necessarily sorted themselves into families and tribes after the confusion of languages. 1760–72 H. Brooke Fool of Qual. (1809) IV. 55 The crowd had sorted themselves, the principals..into one groupe, the young men into another, and the fair maidens into another. 1925 E. F. Norton Fight for Everest, 1924 51 Nearly 300 yak-loads of provision boxes, rolls of bedding and stores of all sorts, dumped higgledy-piggledy off the yaks, began to sort themselves into orderly lines and piles. |
b. To associate or consort with another or others. (Cf. 19.) Also with among(st). Now dial. (freq. in 17th cent.).
| 1579 Tomson Calvin's Serm. Tim. 1051/1 We see that S. Pauls meaning was by this word Common faith, to sort himself quietly with the rest. 1592 Conspir. for Pretended Reform. 1 They..willingly sorted themselues in familiaritie with such. 1642 D. Rogers Naaman 36 Shall I..sort my selfe with such as are enemies? 1691 Wood Ath. Oxon. I. 23 He found out Will. Tyndale in Germany, with whom for a time he sorted himself. a 1713 T. Ellwood Autobiog. (1714) 7, I always sorted myself with Persons of Ingenuity, Temperance, and Sobriety. 1877 in Peacock Manley Gloss. |
13. a. To adapt, to fit, to make conformable to or with some thing or person. Now rare or Obs.
| (a) 1561 in Tytler Hist. Scot. (1864) III. 147 In sorting your entertainment to every person. 1595 T. P. Goodwine Contin. Blanchardyn (1890) 216 It hath pleased God to sorte our haps to our harts contentments. 1619 W. Sclater Exp. 1 Thess. (1629) 509 Gods precepts..must be sorted to their seasons. 1822 Ainslie Land of Burns 235 My auld crazy voice is better sorted to hammeart lilts than sic fine springs. |
| (b) 1591 Shakes. Two Gent. i. iii. 63 My will is something sorted with his wish. 1607 Dekker & Webster Sir T. Wyatt D ij b, My lookes (my loue) is sorted with my heart. 1640 tr. Verdere's Rom. of Rom. II. 167 If I were at any time to bow unto the affection of a mortall wight, I should never chuse any other to sort my greatnesse withall. |
† b. To bring to an end, effect, etc. Obs.
| 1591 Troub. Raigne K. John (1611) 38 Now euery thing is sorted to this end, Let's in. 1597 Certain Prayers in Liturg. Serv. Eliz. (1847) 677 Lord,..who by thy mighty power sortest to what effect thou wilt the counsels and actions of all men. 1632 Lithgow Trav. iii. 117 The diuine Maiestie doth swey the moments of things, and sorteth them in peremptory manner to..vnlooked for effects. |
† 14. a. To choose or select (time, opportunity, etc.) as fitting or suitable. Obs.
Freq. passing into the sense of ‘to arrange, contrive, find, etc.’
| 1591 Shakes. 1 Hen. VI, ii. iii. 27 I'll sort some other time to visit you. 1592 Kyd Sp. Trag. iv. iv. 103 They had sorted leasure, To take aduantage..Upon my Sonne. 1624 Heywood Gunaik. iv. 193 The young man's father, who sorted opportunitie to talke with his sonne. 1634 ― & Brome Lanc. Witches ii. H.'s Wks. 1874 IV. 192 What times hath she sorted for these journeyes? |
† b. To choose (a thing or person) from others.
| 1591 Shakes. Two Gent. iii. ii. 92 Let vs into the City presently To sort some Gentlemen, well skil'd in Musicke. 1592 ― Rom. & Jul. iv. ii. 34 To helpe me sort such needfull ornaments, As you thinke fit to furnish me. 1638 Ford Lady's Trial i. i, Ere now You might have sorted me in your resolves, Companion of your fortunes. |
15. To furnish, provide, or supply (a person, etc.) with (or of) something. In later use only Sc.
| 1598 Barrett Theor. Warres i. i. 4 The strength of the Battaile is the armed Pike, so they be equally sorted with Harquebuze and Musket. Ibid. ii. i. 26 How would you haue a Companie sorted with weapons? 1600 J. Dymmok Ireland (1843) 14 It is well sorted with woodes and playnes. 1774 Keith Farmer's Ha' xxvii, He tells them he's weel sorted now Of a' thing gude, and cheap, and new. 1825 Jamieson Suppl. s.v., I can sort ye wi' a knife. 1898 E. W. Hamilton Mawkin xv. 200, I warrant we'll sort you with another, and as good a yin too. |
16. Sc. and north. in (a) to (d) and b; colloq. in (e). (Also with up.) To arrange or put in order; to put to rights in some respect.
The leading variations of sense are more fully illustrated in the Eng. Dial. Dict.
| (a) 1827 Carlyle Germ. Rom. IV. 45 Mine host has already in my presence begun sorting the apartment as if I were gone. 1833 Loudon Encycl. Archit. §81 The whole [roofing] to be laid with a sufficient lap, and to be carefully sorted in courses (laid so as that the joints may form regular lines). 1876 Robinson Whitby Gloss. s.v., ‘Get all your things soorted up,’ collected together. |
| absol. 1891 N. Dickson Kirk Beadle 109 The preacher returned to the church and found the beadle busy ‘sorting up’. |
| (b) 1816 Scott Antiq. xliii, The provost's gar'd the beacon light on the Halket-head be sorted up (that suld hae been sorted half a year syne). 1876 Whitehead Daft Davie, etc. 121 The wick needed sorting, and the oil was low. 1877 Fraser Wigtown 62 Belsher..was once engaged sorting the lock of a cell in the Prison. |
| (c) 1816 Scott Antiq. xv, The powny hasna gane abune thirty mile the day;—Jock was sorting him up as I came ower by. 1816 ― Old Mort. xxxvii, ‘Ye may rely on your naig being weel sorted,’ said Cuddie; ‘I ken weel what belangs to suppering a horse’. 1868 Verney Stone Edge vii, Lydia was out in the farmyard ‘sorting’ the cows herself. |
| (d) 1817 Lintoun Green 166 Nor he is here tae sort me right. 1866 Miss Mulock Noble Life iv. 61 She lifted up the poor child, tenderly and carefully—shook his pillows and ‘sorted’ him. 1890 Nisbet Bail up! xxviii, Let me sort you up a little. |
| (e) 1950 ‘D. Divine’ King of Fassarai x. 82 Take her along to Sergeant Marker. Let him sort it. 1975 M. Bradbury History Man xiii. 220 ‘Tomorrow will sort itself, Barbara,’ says Felicity, ‘you'll manage.’ 1976 L. Henderson Major Enquiry ix. 57 They're the boys to get it sorted, all young, keen, and raring to go. |
b. To deal effectively with (a person) by way of punishment, repression, etc.
| 1815 Scott Guy M. xxxiii, Bid them bring up the prisoner—I trow I'll sort him. 1835– in Sc. and north dial. glossaries and texts. 1878 A. R. Hope My Schoolboy Fr. 265 ‘I will sort this Ghost,’ said Kennedy. |
17. In commercial use: To bring up to the usual stock or quantity.
| 1880 Daily News 15 Nov. 3/5 The orders..are merely to enable them to sort up sizes. |
III. 18. a. intr. To suit, fit, or agree; to be in harmony or conformity. Const. with, † to, or † together. Now arch.
| (a) 1590 Shakes. Mids. N. v. i. 55 That is some Satire keene and criticall, Not sorting with a nuptiall ceremonie. 1599 ― Hen. V, iv. i. 63 My name is Pistol call'd. King. It sorts well with your fiercenesse. 1610 W. Folkingham Art of Survey i. x. 33 Dry Marle sortes with moist Soiles. a 1652 Brome Queenes Exch. i. i. Wks. 1873 III. 460 Their Petulances sort not with this place. 1699 Pepys in Diary & Corr. (1879) VI. 215 Of which book it would greatly sort with my Collection that I had a copy. 1709 Pope Ess. Crit. 322 For diff'rent styles with diff'rent subjects sort. 1780 Cowper Progr. Error 446 The text that sorts not with his darling whim, Though plain to others, is obscure to him. 1827 Hare Guesses (1859) 4 The vastness and awfulness of a mere sea-view would ill sort with the other parts of the..prospect. 1858 H. Bushnell Nature & Supernat. xi. (1864) 333 The miracles sort with the person of Christ and his mission. 1891 R. W. Church Oxford Movem. xi. 178 However ill it might sort with the current language of Protestant controversy. |
| (b) 1590 Greene Orl. Fur. Wks. (Rtldg.) 92 Mine emblem sorteth to another sense. 1604 Bp. W. Barlow Sum Conf. Hampton Crt. 27 They appeared before his Maiestie, in Turky gownes, not in their Scholastical habites, sorting to their degrees. 1651 Sir W. Rawleigh's Ghost Pref., A careless and pleasurable life, best sorting to our own desires and sensuality. 1709 Mrs. Manley Secret Mem. (1720) II. 248 Yet sorting to his Humour, we will not ask thee to give him too diffusive a Brightness. |
| (c) 1600 Holland Livy xliv. xxiv. 1185 A free citie and a King were,..by nature, enemies that possibly could not sort together. 1641 Milton Reform. ii. Wks. 1851 III. 58 Wee see that our Ecclesiall and Politicall choyses may consent and sort as well together..as Christians, and Freeholders. |
† b. Without const. To be fitting; to accord; to be in place, to exist. Obs.
| 1593 Shakes. 3 Hen. VI, ii. i. 209 The Queene is comming with a puissant Hoast... War. Why then it sorts, braue Warriors, let's away. 1606 ― Tr. & Cr. i. i. 110 æne... Where⁓fore not a field? Troy. Because not there; this womans answer sorts. For womanish it is to be from thence. 1633 Ford Broken H. i. i, Some one, he is assur'd, may now or then (If opportunity but sort) preuaile. 1667 Milton P.L. viii. 384 Among unequals what societie Can sort, what harmonie or true delight? |
c. Sc. To come to an agreement or settlement; to come to terms (on something).
| 1685 Peden in Walker Life (1827) 95 If ye be pleased with the Wares,..he and ye will soon sort on the Price. 1814 Scott Wav. xviii, I cannot tell you precisely how they sorted; but they agreed sae right that [etc.]. |
19. To associate, consort, go in company with others or together. (Cf. 12 b.) Also with among and without const. Now rare or dial.
| (a) 1592 Shakes. Ven. & Ad. 689 Sometime he runs among a flock of sheep.., And sometime sorteth with a herd of deer. 1612 Bacon Ess., Par. & Childr. (Arb.) 274 The illiberality of Parents..towards their children..makes them sort with meane companie. 1685 Burnet tr. More's Utopia 37 If I should sort with another kind of Ministers. 1720 De Foe Capt. Singleton xiii. (1840) 228 He went over to Captain Avery, and sorted with his people. 1784 Cowper Tiroc. 114 Too careless often as our years proceed, What friends we sort with, or what books we read. 1805–6 Cary Dante, Inf. xv. 120 A company, with whom I may not sort, Approaches. 1886 Elworthy W. Somerset Word-bk. 695, I never don't try vor to sort wi' my betters. |
| transf. 1695 Woodward Nat. Hist. Earth iv. (1723) 193 Nor do Metalls only sort and herd with Metalls in the Earth. |
| (b) 1601 Holland Pliny I. 233 That willingly these little creatures will not sort together vnlesse they were countrimen as it were. Ibid. 278 What fowles soeuer haue crooked clawes sort not together in flocks. 1672 Eachard Hobbs' State Nat. 40 Men are apt to sort, to herd. 1709 Mrs. Manley Secret Mem. (1720) II. 253 Thus adorn'd,..what genteel..Company would suffer him to sort among them? 1819 W. Tennant Papistry Storm'd (1827) 77 He did dislike baith Pape and Deil; (Thir twa thegither sortit weil). |
▪ VI. † sort, v.2 Sc. Obs.
[ad. F. sortir, of doubtful origin.]
intr. To sally out; to make a sortie.
| 1571 Bannatyne Jrnl. (1806) 248 They of Edinburgh cvme furth hors and fute..; and they of Leyth also sorted. 1584 Hudson Du Bartas' Judith vi. (1608) 93 The warriours strong, That kept the towne, now sorted forth in throng. a 1600 Hist. Jas. Sext (Bannatyne Club) 25 Thay sortit from Hammilton upon the 13 day of Maij to pas towart Dumbartan. Ibid. 98 The same was so notifeit to the people of Edinburgh, that thair horsemen sortit. |