- 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>
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after a sort : in a rough or haphazard way <plays the piano, after a sort>
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all sorts of : many different : all kinds of <knows all sorts of people>
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of sorts or of a sort : in some respects but not entirely or truly <a vacation of sorts>
