sort

I. 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

> 2. archaic group, company 3. a. archaic 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 font 5. an instance of sorting <

a numeric sort of a data file

> Synonyms: see type II. verb Date: 14th century transitive verb 1. a. to put in a certain place or rank according to kind, class, or nature <

sort apples

> <

sort mail

> b. to arrange according to characteristics ; classify — usually used with out <

sort out colors

> 2. chiefly Scottish to put to rights ; put in order 3. a. to examine in order to clarify — used with out <

sorting out his problems

> b. to free of confusion ; clarify — used with out <

waited until things sorted themselves out

> intransitive verb 1. to join or associate with others especially of the same kind <

sort with thieves

> 2. agree, harmonize <

his benign view sorts badly with reality — Henry Trewhitt

> 3. search <

sort through some old papers

> • sortable adjective • sorter noun