sort / sôrt/ • n. 1. a category of things or people having some common feature; a type: if only we knew the sort of people she was mixing with | a radical change poses all sorts of questions. ∎  inf. a person of a specified character or nature: Frank was a genuinely friendly sort. ∎ archaic a manner or way: in law also the judge is in a sort superior to his king.2. Comput. the arrangement of data in a prescribed sequence.3. Printing a letter or piece in a font of type.• v. [tr.] 1. arrange systematically in groups; separate according to type, class, etc.: she sorted out the clothes, some to be kept, some to be thrown away. ∎  (sort through) look at (a group of things) one after another in order to classify them or make a selection: she sat down and sorted through her mail.2. resolve (a problem or difficulty): the teacher helps the children to sort out their problems. ∎  resolve the problems or difficulties of (oneself): I need time to sort myself out.PHRASES: after a sort dated after a fashion.in some sort to a certain extent: I am in some sort indebted to you.nothing of the sort used as an emphatic way of denying permission or refuting an earlier statement or assumption: “I'll pay.” “You'll do nothing of the sort.”of a sort (or of sorts) inf. of an atypical and typically inferior type: the training camp actually became a tourist attraction of sorts.out of sorts slightly unwell: feeling nauseous and generally out of sorts. ∎  in low spirits; irritable: the trying events of the day had put him out of sorts.sort of inf. to some extent; in some way or other (used to convey inexactness or vagueness): “Do you see what I mean?” “Sort of,” answered Jean cautiously.the —— sort the kind of person likely to do or be involved with the thing specified: she'd never imagined Steve to be the marrying sort.PHRASAL VERBS: sort someone out inf. deal with someone who is causing trouble, typically by restraining, reprimanding, or punishing them: if he can't pay you, I'll sort him out.sort something out1. separate something from a mixed group: she started sorting out the lettuce from the spinach.2. arrange; prepare: they are anxious to sort out traveling arrangements.DERIVATIVES: sort·a·ble adj.sort·er n.

sort kind, species XIV; (arch.) manner, way XVI. — (O)F. sorte :- Rom. *sorta, alt. of L. sors, sort-voting tablet, lot, fortune, condition (AL. sort, kind).
So sort vb. †allot; arrange, assort XIV; (arch.) agree or associate with XVI. — OF. sortir or L. sortīrī; later f. the sb. or aphetic of ASSORT.

Sort

a group having similar qualities; a crowd or flock. See also batch, set, suit.

Examples : sort of benefit, 1578; of doves, 1687; of ewes, 1611; of figs, 1438; of gallants, 1598; of goodly knights, 1509; of raisins; of ships, 1681; of pretty tales, 1584; of traitors; a great sort of wives, 1529.