Main Entry:

¹sort

Pronunciation:

\ˈsȯrt\

Function:

noun

Etymology:

Middle English, from Anglo-French, fate, lot, characteristic, from Latin sort-, sors lot, share, category — more at series

Date:

14th century

1 a: a group set up on the basis of any characteristic in common : class, kind b: one approximating the character or qualities of another <a sort of latter-day Abe Lincoln> c: person, individual <he's not a bad sort>2archaic : group, company3 aarchaic : method or manner of acting : way, manner b: character, nature <people of an evil sort>4 a: a letter or character that is one element of a font b: a character or piece of type that is not part of a regular font5: an instance of sorting <a numeric sort of a data file>

synonyms see type

— after a sort

: in a rough or haphazard way <plays the piano, after a sort>

— all sorts of

: many different : all kinds of <knows all sorts of people>

— of sorts or of a sort

: in some respects but not entirely or truly <a vacation of sorts>

— out of sorts

1: somewhat ill2: grouchy, irritable