v. [a. OF. assorter (mod. assortir), f. à to + sorte SORT, kind; cf. It. assortare (Florio), -ire.]
1. trans. To distribute (things, rarely persons) into groups, as being of like nature or intended for the same purpose; to arrange in sorts, classify.
1490. Caxton, Eneydos, xv. 54. And chose theym one from the other for to assorte theym.
1611. Cotgr., Assortir, To sort, assort … order severall things handsomely; also, to furnish, or store with all sorts of.
1774. Burke, Sp. Amer. Taxation, Wks. II. 420. The colleagues whom he had assorted at the same boards.
1803. Jane Porter, Thaddeus, xiv. (1831), 128. Assorting some parcels on the counter.
2. trans. To class, place (a thing or person) in the same group with others.
1833. I. Taylor, Fanat., v. 89. The companions with whom we found ourselves assorted.
1861. Dickens, Gt. Expect., I. 259. He would … assort it with the fabulous dogs and veal-cutlets as a monstrous invention.
3. intr. To fall into a class, take one’s place fitly; to be of a sort, match, suit well or ill with.
1800. W. Taylor, in Month. Mag., X. 424. His Muse assorts ill with the personages of Christian mythology.
1837. Sir W. Hamilton, Metaph., xxxvii. (1870), II. 335. Finding that it is harmonious,—that it dovetails and naturally assorts with other parts.
4. intr. To consort, keep company, associate with.
1823. Lamb, Elia, Ser. II. vii. (1865), 284. I could abide to assort with fisher-swains.
1861. J. Pycroft, Agony Point, I. vii. 118. She assorted with those of an age at which single ladies grow composed as to their own identity.
5. trans. To furnish with an assortment.
[Cf. 1611 in 1.]
1790. Burke, Rev. France, 15 (T.). The rich variety to be found in the well-assorted warehouses of dissenting congregations.
Mod. We have sent orders for some white goods to assort our store.
