Also 4–6 soort, 5 soorte, 5–7 sorte, 5 sortt, sorth. [a. OF. sorte (mod.F. sorte, = It. sorta):—pop. L. *sorta, alteration of L. sort-, sors: see prec. Cf. MLG. and G. sorte, WFris. soarte, Du. soort, Da. and Sw. sort.]
I. A kind, species, variety or description of persons or things.
* Preceded by ‘of.’
1. Of a (certain) sort, of a certain kind, etc.
c. 1380. Wyclif, Serm., Sel. Wks. I. 392. Al þe folk of þis soort is a world þat shal be dampned.
1390. Gower, Conf., I. 64. Ther ben lovers of such a sort, That feignen hem an humble port.
c. 1420. Lydg., Assembly of Gods, 672. What pepyll they were that came to that dysport I shall yow declare of many a sondry sort.
1482. in Eng. Hist. Rev., XXV. 122. For every quayre of ye secounde soorte … he shalle haue .viij d.
1545. Rates of Custome House, b ij b. Fysche of the smalliste sorte.
1574. trans. Marlorat’s Apocalips, 113. The things that are red euery where in the Psalmes and prophets: of which sorte bee these sayings.
a. 1628. Preston, New Covt. (1634), 133. They be not all of one sort, but of divers sorts, some of one sort, some of another sort, but they are all vessels of glory.
1681. Dryden, Abs. & Achit., 632. Surrounded thus with friends of every sort, Deluded Absalom forsakes the court.
1722. De Foe, Relig. Courtsh., I. i. (1840), 13. I hope your girls are not of that sort.
1787. Mme. D’Arblay, Diary, 16 Aug. The moment a topic of that solemn sort is started.
1816. J. Smith, Panorama Sci. & Art, II. 284. It gives a considerable shock, but has little power of any other sort.
1841. Thackeray, Gt. Hoggarty Diam., xiii. Both your son and your daughter-in-law … are of that uncommon sort.
1875. Jowett, Plato (ed. 2), V. 8. He should have a fear of the right sort, as well as a courage of the right sort.
b. Of (various) sorts. (With numerals, etc.)
1459. Paston Lett., I. 472. ij. quartelettes, of dyvers sortes.
1482. in Eng. Hist. Rev., XXV. 122. Which Bookes beene of iiij. dyuerse manere of soortes.
1519. Registr. Aberdon. (Maitl. Cl.), II. 175. Item iiij cusseins of nedyll werk of þre syndry sortis.
1548. Turner, Names Herbes (E. D. S.), 24. Centaurium is of two sortes.
1582. Hakluyt, Divers Voy., G ij b. An innumerable sort of wilde foule of all sortes.
1651. Hobbes, Leviath., II. xxiii. 125. Controversies are of two sorts, namely, of Fact and of Law.
1711. Addison, Spect., No. 92, ¶ 6. Plays of all Sorts have their several Advocates.
1765. Ann. Reg., 158. He had … 33 pegging-awls, 37 awls of other sorts.
1811. Wordsw., in Mem. (1851), I. 410. Physical enginery of all sorts.
1843. Penny Cycl., XXV. 424/2. The rosettes are of two sorts, fixed and shifting.
2. Used of persons, with special reference to character, disposition or rank. (Cf. 11 b.)
c. 1386. Chaucer, Cook’s T., 17. [He] gadred him a meyne of his sort, To hoppe and synge.
a. 1533. Ld. Berners, Huon, li. 170. A companyon of your owne sort haue ye founde.
1581. Pettie, trans. Guazzo’s Civ. Conv., I. (1586), 4. These are for the most part men of good calling, and not of the common sort.
1590. Shaks., Mids. N., III. ii. 159. None of nobler sort Would so offend a Virgin.
1621. Elsing, Debates Ho. Lords (Camden), 63. For that he hathe made so clere and ingenuous confession, which men of his sorte doe not.
1635. R. N., trans. Camden’s Hist. Eliz., IV. 409. This Hacket was a man of vulgar sort.
1722. De Foe, Plague (1754), 46. Persons of good Sort and Credit.
1749. Chesterf., Lett., ccvii. (1792), II. 289. Worse dressed than people of your sort are.
1781. Cowper, Retirement, 716. The mind … Should turn to writers of an abler sort.
1822. Shelley, Faust, II. 222. They are too mad for people of my sort.
† b. Hence Of sort, of (high) quality or rank.
1603. Shaks., Meas. for M., IV. iv. 20. Giue notice to such men of sort and suite as are to meete him.
1606. Warner, Alb. Eng., XVI. ci. (1612), 401. For things in some vnseemly are not such to some of Sort.
1624. Capt. Smith, Virginia (1632), 106. His Lordship arriued…, accompanied with Sir Ferdinando Waynman,… and diuers other Gentlemen of sort.
3. a. Of a sort, of the same kind or description. Now dial. (also of sort).
1463. Bury Wills (Camden), 23. ij lowe candylstikkez of a sorth.
1672. Temple, Ess., Governm., Wks. 1720, I. 95. The same Countries have generally in all times been used to Forms of Government much of a sort.
a. 1715. Burnet, Own Time (1766), I. 46. They were men all of a sort.
1839. Sir G. C. Lewis, Gloss. Heref., s.v., ‘A thing of sort’ means a corresponding thing.
1876. Bound, Prov. Shropsh.
b. In suggestive use: A word of a sort, a sharp or angry word or reproof. rare.
1796. Mrs. M. Robinson, Angelina, II. 39. I should have given him a word of a sort, I promise you.
1839. Sir G. C. Lewis, Gloss. Heref., s.v., ‘Words of a sort’ means a quarrel.
4. Of sorts: a. Of different or various kinds. Now rare.
1597. in P. H. Hore, Hist. Wexford (1900), I. 282. 6 yards Canikin, 18 hatts of sorts.
1599. Shaks., Hen. V., I. ii. 190. They [sc. bees] haue a King, and Officers of sorts.
1825. T. Hook, Sayings, Ser. II. Passion & Princ., xi. III. 249. At this moment cheeses of sorts were paraded.
c. 1850. Rudim. Navig. (Weale), 135. Nails of sorts are 4, 6, 8, 10, 24, 30, and 40-penny nails, all of different lengths … for nailing board, &c.
b. colloq. In disparaging use: Of a kind which is not very satisfactory; rather poor.
1902. Daily Chron., 20 May, 4/6. In the old days Spain provided an outlet of sorts.
1903. ‘Angus McNeill’ (T. W. H. Crosland), Egregious English, x. 91. Up to this time you have been an orator of sorts.
5. Something of the sort, something similar to that previously indicated, mentioned or specified. Nothing of the sort, no such thing.
1839. Fr. A. Kemble, Resid. in Georgia (1863), 91. Something of the sort must be done.
1869. Martineau, Ess., II. 120. Spinoza does nothing of the sort.
1895. Law Times Rep., LXXIII. 692/1. With regard to the … estate in England I disclaim, but I do nothing of the sort as regards ehe … estate in America.
** Followed by ‘of.’
6. A particular kind, etc., of thing(s) or person(s).
sing. 1529. More, Suppl. Souls, Wks. 329/1. Let vs now see whether sort of these twayn might take most harme.
1560. Daus, trans. Sleidane’s Comm., 63. I knowe that sorte of men ryght well.
1632. Lithgow, Trav., III. 102. These Cloysters haue a brauer life … than any sort of Friers can elsewhere find.
1671. Milton, Samson, 1323. Have they not … ev’ry sort Of Gymnic Artists, Wrestlers, Riders, Runners?
1737. Bracken, Farriery Impr. (1757), II. 99. Hay well laid in is the only sort of Fodder for our Horses.
1779. Mirror, No. 61. From the same sort of feeling has the idea of Home its attraction.
1818. Cruise, Digest (ed. 2), III. 478. The second sort of prescription is that which arises from the several statutes of limitation.
1865. Trollope, Belton Est., xvi. 189. A fair specimen of the sort of letter they ought not to write.
1885. Truth, 28 May, 854/2. He does not appear to be the sort of horse to stand much knocking about.
pl. 1526. Pilgr. Perf. (W. de W., 1531), 14 b. These two sortes of the chyldren of Israel.
1590. Sir J. Smyth, Disc. Weapons, 7. That those sorts of weapons … may be more readilie … drawne out.
1656. Hammond, Leah & Rachel (1844), 13. The rivers afford innumerable sortes of choyce fish.
1670. Lady M. Bertie, in 12th Rep. Hist. MSS. Comm., App. V. 21. The under pettycoatt very richly laced with two or three sorts of lace.
1725. Fam. Dict., s.v. Aristolochy, There are four sorts of Aristolochies.
1825. T. Hook, Sayings, Ser. II. Passion & Princ., vi. He … did an infinity of those sorts of things which were not professionally required of him.
b. All sorts of (things or persons), = ‘things or persons of all kinds or descriptions.’ (Cf. 7 c.)
1558. Warde, trans. Alexis’ Secr., 33 b. Take of … al sortes of Mirabolanes.
1584. R. Scot, Discov. Witchcr., II. x. (1886), 27. All sorts of writers, learned and unlearned.
1603. Reg. Mag. Sig. Scot., 514/1. Ilk hors laid of fische, flesche, cornis and all sortis of viveris.
1687. A. Lovell, trans. Thevenot’s Trav., I. 143. All sorts of things are sold in this street.
1700. Dryden, trans. Ovid’s Metam., XIII. Acis, Pol. & Gal., 136. All sorts of Ven’son; and of Birds the best.
1781. T. Gilbert, Plan for Relief Poor, 6. Workhouses are generally inhabited by all Sorts of Persons.
1860. Holland, Miss Gilbert, i. 9. They answered with the shrill, sing-song voice of parrots all sorts of questions in geography.
1891. H. Herman, His Angel, 238. I’ve been buying frocks and all sorts of things these days past.
ellipt. 1597. J. King, On Jonas (1618), Ep. Ded. Let it receiue favovrable interpretation with all sorts men.
c. With distinguishing adjs. or attrib. phrases.
1590. Sir J. Smyth, Disc. Weapons, Ded. Others of the most dispost and lustie sort of people of our Nation.
1615. G. Sandys, Trav., 120. A number of sheepe; which … they distribute vnto their slaues and poorer sort of people.
1676. Glanvill, Ess. Philos. & Relig., IV. 12. By leaving this whole unintelligible sort of beings out of its accounts.
1705. Hearne, Collect., 16 Aug. (O.H.S.), I. 30. Mr. Rymer … is a very good sort of Man.
1798. Charlotte Smith, Yng. Philos., I. 207. I have been tired of such John Trott sort of prosing ever since I was ten years old.
1836. [Mrs. Traill], Backwoods of Canada, 123. We begin to get reconciled to our Robinson Crusoe sort of life.
1861. M. Pattison, Ess. (1889), I. 45. A vine or two and some of the finer sorts of fruit were trained.
1885. G. Allen, Babylon, xxxviii. Cecca was really not a bad sort of girl.
7. Used collectively: a. With these or those.
1551. Recorde, Cast. Knowl. (1556), 86. These sort of people are named of the greke Cosmographers … Heteroscij.
1563. Golding, Cæsar, 76. A great multitude … of those sorte of rascals whom hope of spoile … had wythdrawen from husbandrye.
1671. Phillips (ed. 3), Inchoatives, in Grammar are those sort of Verbs which express a gradual proceeding in any action.
1691. W. Nichols, Answ. Naked Gospel, 15. I do not think we are so much credulous, as these sort of Gentlemen are saucy.
1718. Entertainer, No. 14. 94. These sort of Mortals are generally … prepossess’d with a good opinion of themselves.
1798. Charlotte Smith, Yng. Philos., II. 29. These sort of details gave my poor father great delight.
1814. Syd. Smith, in Lady Holland, Mem. (1855), II. 113. I rather suppose it is too far from town for these sort of engagements.
1857. Trollope, Barchester T., xxxiv. ‘Those sort of rules are all gone by now,’ said Mr. Arabin.
1872. Ruskin, Fors Clav., xxi. 19. What?… do those sort of people know what love is?
b. With plural verbs or pronouns. Now rare.
1568. Grafton, Chron., II. 99. The yonger sort of ye Monkes there gathered themselues together at midnight.
1632. Lithgow, Trav., V. 206. The best sort of Mahometans … call themselues Musilmans.
1647. F. Bland, Souldiers March, 36. There are yet another sort of Enemies [etc.].
c. 1671. Locke, in Ld. King, Life (1830), II. 284. There are a sort of propositions, passing under the title of maxims.
1704. N. N., trans. Boccalini’s Advts. fr. Parnass., III. 227. They thought such sort of Showes were not fit to be seen.
1769. Burke, Obs. late State Nation, 119. There are a sort of middle tints and shades between the two extremes.
1804–6. Syd. Smith, Mor. Philos. (1850), 110. Such sort of questions … are not merely innocent subtleties.
c. With all. (Cf. 6 b.) Now rare or Obs.
1594. R. Ashley, trans. Loys le Roy, 10 b. The countrie … aboundeth with all sort of corne, flesh, and fruit.
1603. Reg. Mag. Sig. Scot., 514/2. For mettage of all sort of victuall sauld or mett within the said burgh.
1641. Tombes, Leaven Phar. Wil-worship (1643), 14. Al sort of erroneous teachers, and licentious livers, were tolerated.
1709. Mrs. Manley, Secret Mem. (1720), III. 121. With all Sort of Address, and artful seeming Sincerity.
1771. T. Hull, Sir W. Harrington (1797), I. 42. The earl … has thought fit to drop all sort of correspondence with me.
1804. Anna Seward, Mem. Darwin, 5. He … supplied their necessities by food, and all sort of charitable assistance.
† d. With numerals or partitives. Obs.
1594. Nashe, Dido, 1381, Wks. (Grosart), VI. 62. A garden where are … Musk-roses, and a thousand sort of flowers.
1732. Arbuthnot, Rules of Diet, in Aliments, etc. (1735), 261. The Nature of most sort of animal Diet may be discovered by Taste and other sensible Qualities.
8. In the phr. A sort of..., denoting that some thing, person, quality, etc., is, or may be, included in the specified class, although not typical of it or possessing all its characteristics; = ‘something in the nature of.’ Cf. KIND sb. 14 c.
1703. De Foe, in 15th Rep. Hist. MSS. Comm., App. IV. 62. Fleeing from her Majesty’s justice is a sort of making war against her.
1726. Swift, Gulliver, Introd. Lett. They use a sort of jabber, and do not go naked.
1780. Mirror, No. 110. There is a sort of classic privilege in the very names of places in London.
1819. Scott, Ivanhoe, i. His legs were cased in a sort of gaiters.
1845. M. Pattison, Ess. (1889), I. 14. A moral power … forcing from them a sort of recognition of its claims.
1884. W. C. Smith, Kildrostan, 69. We are grown To be a sort of dandies in religion.
b. So A (or some) sort of a.…
1720. Shadwell, Hasty Wedding, II. iv. I do think him but a sort of a, kind of a,… sort of a Gentleman.
1766. C. Beatty, Tour (1768), 28. We … put up at some sort of a public house.
1823. Scott, Quentin D., xxxi. The richest heiress in Burgundy has confessed a sort of a—what was I going to say?
1846–9. S. R. Maitland, Ess., etc. 47. Bishop Burnet is even kind enough to make a sort of an excuse for Sir Thomas More.
c. (A) sort of, o’, a, sorter, used adverbially: In a way or manner; to some extent or degree, somewhat; in some way, somehow. Chiefly dial. and colloq.
(a) 1790. Mrs. Wheeler, Westmld. Dial. (1821), 63. Its a fine ewnin but its a sort a caad.
1839. Marryat, Diary Amer., Ser. I. II. 218. I bees a sorter courted, and a sorter not; reckon more a sorter yes than a sorter no.
1858. W. R. Pirie, Inq. Hum. Mind, i. 10. One is a sort of bewildered in attempting to discover what it really is which constitutes the obligation.
(b) 1833. J. Hall, Legends West, 50. It sort o’ stirs one up to hear about old times.
1858. Hughes, Scouring White Horse, ii. 18. He was sort of proud of them.
1870. Bret Harte, Luck of Roaring Camp, 11. The rosewood cradle … had, in Stumpy’s way of putting it, ‘sorter killed the rest of the furniture.’
d. In a sort of way, imperfectly; not exactly, absolutely or properly.
1875. Jowett, Plato (ed. 2), I. 36. The impossibility of a man knowing in a sort of way that which he does not know at all.
1892. T. Hardy, Well-Beloved, I. viii. (1897), 43. ‘I advised you to go back, Marcie.’
‘In a sort of way: not in the right tone.’
9. No sort of..., used as an emphatic negative phrase to denote the complete absence of anything of the kind specified.
1736. Butler, Anal., I. ii. Wks. 1874, I. 46. There is no sort of ground for being thus presumptuous.
1770. Langhorne, Plutarch (1879), II. 634/2. No sort of harmony could exist between them.
1852. Thackeray, Esmond, III. xii. The great majority had no sort of inkling of the transaction pending.
1884. Manch. Exam., 25 Feb., 4/7. On the part of many, the inclination to work bears no sort of proportion to the inclination to talk.
10. That or this sort of thing, used to denote in a general way a thing, quality, etc., of a like or similar nature to that specified.
1848. Thackeray, Van. Fair, lxv. She is very unhappy, and—and that sort of thing. Ibid., lxvi. ‘Pooh! damn; don’t let us have this sort of thing!’ Jos cried out,… anxious to get rid of a scene.
1889. J. K. Jerome, Three Men in Boat, 103. I would … lead a blameless, beautiful life,… and all that sort of thing.
*** In elliptic or absolute use.
11. A particular class, order or rank of persons.
1529. More, Dyalogue, IV. Wks. 287/2. That man … that would rather send his soule with such a sort as these be, than with all those holy saintes.
1572. J. Jones, Bathes of Bathes Ayde, Ep. Ded. a ij. Hieronymus Montuus, affirmeth that of all sortes, Phisike is to bee embraced.
1608. Dod & Cleaver, Expos. Prov. xi.–xii. 128. The one sort are led by the word and spirit of God,… the other are led by the flesh, and Sathan.
1667. Milton, P. L., VI. 376. The other sort in might though wondrous…, Nameless in dark oblivion let them dwell.
1812. Miss Mitford, in L’Estrange, Life (1870), I. 172. The first sort cannot go upon a water-party but you must read an account of it in three full sheets.
1871. ‘M. Legrand,’ Cambr. Freshm., 295. His lordship added,… they weren’t his sort, and he should not have anything to do with ’em.
1878. Browning, Poets Croisic, 44. All sorts and conditions that stood by … bore witness to the prophecy.
b. With defining or distinguishing adj. (usu. in the comparative).
Freq. from c. 1550 to c. 1650; now somewhat rare.
1548. Turner, Names Herbes (E. D. S.), 33. Daphnoides, called of the commune sort Laureola.
1549. Allen, Par. Revel. St. John, 11. The spirituall sort, which haue their lyuynge of the gospel, wherunto they are the most extreme enemyes,… a thousande partes more than the secular and laye sorte.
1576. Gascoigne, Steele Gl. (Arb.), 82. The yonger sorte, come pyping on apace,… The elder sorte, go stately stalking on.
1611. Bible, Transl. Pref., ¶ 2. This is the lot and portion of the meaner sort onely.
1655. Stanley, Hist. Philos., I. (1687), 26/1. Laws are like Cobwebs which entangle the lesser sort, the greater break through.
a. 1715. Burnet, Own Time (1766), I. 295. Sometimes they were fined and the younger sort whipped about the streets.
1760–2. Goldsm., Cit. W., xv. The better sort here pretend to the utmost compassion for animals of every kind.
1842. Mrs. Gore, Fascination, 15. You are one of the right sort.
1853. Hickie, trans. Aristoph. (1872), II. 691. The better sort do not ask for money.
1883. Daily News, 11 Sept., 3/1. A little knot of those formerly called emphatically ‘the right sort.’
c. So A (bad, good, etc.) sort, applied to a single person. colloq.
1882. J. Sturgis, Dick’s Wandering, III. IV. xlii. 82. They cursed and said that Dick was a good sort.
1891. C. Roberts, Adrift Amer., 165. On the whole he was not a bad sort.
12. A kind, variety, etc., of thing(s).
1523. Fitzherb., Husb., § 134. Than sorte the trees, the polles by them-selfe, the myddel sorte by them-selfe.
1567. Maplet, Gr. Forest, 2. One of those sortes that is easie to engraue in.
1577. B. Googe, Heresbach’s Husb., II. (1586), 49. Whereas the Hearbes and Trees are seuered euery sort in their due place.
1633. Gerarde’s Herbal, III. xcv. 1448. These fiue sorts; the common, the long,… and the early aprecocke.
1690. Locke, Hum. Und., III. iii. (1695), 231. Things are ranked under Names into Sorts or Species, only as they agree to certain abstract Ideas, to which we have annexed those Names.
1776. Cowper, Lett., 12 Nov. One to whom fish is so welcome … can have no great occasion to distinguish the sorts.
1842. Loudon, Suburban Hort., 643. According to the richness of the soil and the vigour of the sort.
1861. Dickens, Gt. Expect., v. May you live a thousand years, and never be a worse judge of the right sort.
b. All sorts, in colloquial or idiomatic uses.
1794. Mrs. Radcliffe, Myst. Udolpho, xxxi. There they were, all drinking Tuscany wine and all sorts.
1839. Hood, Our Village, 23. There’s a shop of all sorts, that sells every thing.
1863. Mrs. Hawthorne, in N. Hawthorne & Wife (1885), II. 331. I hope to hear about papa’s visit to Rockport, and ‘all sorts,’ as dear Mrs. Browning used to say.
1900. Westm. Gaz., 14 March, 1/3. Asking how it was possible to have complete transport in stock for an Empire of ‘all sorts’ like this.
13. † a. pl. Spices. Obs.–1
1530. in T. D. Whitaker, Hist. Craven (1812), 306. Item 2 pounds of sorts of Portugal.
b. Typog. One or other of the characters or letters in a fount of type. Usu. in pl.
1668–9. in Cent. Typogr. Univ. Press, Oxford (1900), 156. Then you will perceiue what sorts your worke runns most vpon and so you must cast ouer such sorts.
1683. Moxon, Mech. Exerc., Printing, 391. The Letters … in every Box of the Case are … called Sorts in Printers and Founders Language; Thus a is a Sort, b is a Sort.
1771. Luckombe, Hist. Print., 248. For example, c, i, m, p, q, u, being Latin Sorts, might be more sparingly cast.
1784. Franklin, in Bigelow, Life (1881), III. 256. The founts, too, must be very scanty, or strangely out of sorts.
1808. Stower, Printer’s Gram., 54. The expense … in casting a fount of letter with such a number of heavy sorts will be considerable. Ibid., 60. The upper case sorts…. The lower case sorts.
1839. Hansard, Print. & Type-founding (1841), 82. Capital letters, figures, accented letters, particular sorts, &c.
1888. Jacobi, Printers’ Vocab., 128. Sorts.—The general term applied to any particular letter or letters as distinguished from a complete fount.
14. Out of sorts: a. Not in the usual or normal condition of good health or spirits; in a low-spirited, irritable, or peevish state, esp. through physical discomfort; slightly unwell.
1621. S. Ward, Life of Faith, 46. I wonder … to see one … that knowes all must worke for the best, to be at any time out of tune, or out of sorts.
1642. D. Rogers, Naaman, 98. But now … being defeated, he is out of sorts, and chuseth rather … to goe away, than to be cured thereby.
1702. S. Parker, trans. Cicero’s De Finibus, App. 360. When our Affairs are discouraging,… we must be at least proportionably Unhappy, and out of Sorts.
1775. Miss Burney, Early Diary (1889), II. 42. He was extremely out of sorts because there was some company in the room who did not please him.
1801. Ld. Cornwallis, in Ld. Stanhope, Life Pitt (1862), III. xxxi. 354. I am myself out of sorts, lowspirited, and tired of everything.
1857. Dickens, Dorrit, II. xiii. I am weary and out of sorts to-night.
1871. Napheys, Prev. & Cure Dis., II. i. 356. The child which is only out of sorts frets itself.
transf. 1815. Scott, Guy M., xliv. One of the bed-posts … was broken down, so that the tester and curtains hung forward into the middle of the narrow chamber…. ‘Never mind that being out o’ sorts, Captain.’
1873. Browning, Red Cott. Nt.-cap, 711. A sense that something is amiss, Something is out of sorts in the display.
b. In literal sense: Out of or without certain kinds of articles or goods. Also transf.
1670. Ray, Prov., 225. Many a man … coming home from far voyages, may chance to land here, and being out of sorts, is unable for the present time … to recruit himself with clothes.
1675. V. Alsop, Anti-Sozzo, 278. Their unhappiness is, they have not so vast a Stock to set up with, and sometimes may be out of Sorts. Ibid., 520. He may upon these principles, coyn as many several sorts … of justifying Faith, as he can possibly spend in seven years time; and as he grows out of sorts, he may stamp as many more.
† 15. Without article: a. Rank, class. Obs.
1671. Milton, Samson, 1608. With seats where all the Lords and each degree Of sort, might sit in order to behold.
† b. In sort, in various kinds; in variety. Obs.
1756. Mrs. Calderwood, in Coltness Collect. (Maitland Club), 225. As for timber things and kitchen things in sort, smith and wright work were all to sell ready made.
16. That’s your sort (also dial. sorts), as a term of approbation. slang.
1792. Holcroft, Road to Ruin, IV. 65. That’s your sort!
1793. European Mag., XXIII. 307/2.
| A sly old dame, long used to scenes of sport, | |
| Cocks her one eye, and snuffles, ‘That’s your sort.’ |
1825. Jamieson, Suppl., s.v. That’s your sorts! an exclamation used when one is highly pleased with an action or thing. Aberd[een].
1865. Slang Dict., 240. Pitch it into him, that’s your sort.
II. † 17. A number of persons associated together in some way; a band, company, group or set of persons (or animals). Obs.
In this and the next group not always clearly distinct from senses 6 and 11–12.
c. 1400. Destr. Troy, 3713. The Dukes were drounet, & oþer dere folke. All the sort þat hom suet sunkyn to ground.
1489. Skelton, Death Earl Northumbld., 212. The heuenly yerarchy, With all the hole sorte of that glorious place.
1500–20. Dunbar, Poems, lxxvii. 46. That seimlie sort, in ordour weill besein, Did meit the quein.
a. 1547. Surrey, Æneid, IV. 276. Paris now with his unmanly sorte.
1583. Stocker, Civ. Warres Lowe C., I. 2. One sorte of them was burnt, another sort hanged, the thirde drowned, and the fourth sorte had no more hurt but their heades cut off.
1612. W. Sclater, Sick Soul’s Salve, 3. An other sort there are, and they as heavily complaine.
† b. In sort, on a sort, in a body or company. In sort with, in common with. Obs.
c. 1400. Destr. Troy, 4326. Nawther cercumsiset sothely in sort with the Jewes, Ne comyn with cristenmen.
a. 1400–50. Alexander, 1555. All þe cite in sorte felowis him eftir.
a. 1536. Songs, Carols, etc. (E.E.T.S.), 106. I shall you tell a full good sport, How gossippis gader them on a sort.
1590. Shaks., Mids. N., III. ii. 21. As … russet-pated choughes, many in sort…, Seuer themselues.
c. Const. of (persons or animals).
Common from c. 1520 to 1650; now arch.
1509. Hawes, Past. Pleasure, XXVII. (Percy Soc.), 129. To beholde so fayre and good a sorte Of goodly knyghtes.
1542. Udall, Erasm. Apoph., 106. A sorte of young striepleynges standing about Diogenes.
1598. B. Jonson, Ev. Man in Hum., I. v. I was requested to supper, last night, by a sort of gallants.
c. 1611. Chapman, Iliad, IV. 460. The Trojans, like a sort of ewes penn’d in a rich man’s fold.
1676. Life Father Sarpi, in Brent’s Counc. Trent, 28. In the Merchants Street there used to meet a sort of gallant and vertuous Gentlemen to recount their Intelligences, one with another.
1687. Dryden, Hind & P., III. 946. A sort of Doves were housed too near their hall.
1828. Scott, F. M. Perth, iv. Here are a sort of knaves breaking peace within burgh.
1865. Swinburne, Chastelard, I. i. (1894), 7. What a sort of men Crowd all about the squares!
1880. Webb, Goethe’s Faust, I. ii. 57. A soldier, with a sort of gallants round him.
† d. All the sort of (you, etc.), every one. Obs.
1535. Coverdale, Job xvi. 1. Miserable geuers of comforte are ye, all the sorte of you.
1549. Coverdale, etc. Erasm. Par. 1 John 42. Traunsgressions … doone awaye all the sorte of them by the precious blood of his sonne.
1561. T. Hoby, trans. Castiglione’s Courtyer, III. (1577), R vj b. Ye are all the sort of you too great Clearkes in loue.
† e. A collection, parcel, set, etc., of things.
1563. Homilies, II. Agst. Parell Idol., III. T t iij. By the space of a sort of hundreth yeares.
1584. Peele, Arraignm. Paris, I. ii. Thou hast a sort of pretty tales in store, Dare say no nymph in Ida woods hath more.
1606. Chapman, Gentl. Usher, I. i. 173. I hope youle then stand like a sort of blocks.
18. A (great, good, etc.) number or lot of persons or things; a considerable body or quantity; a multitude.
Common from c. 1530 to 1600; now dial.
c. 1475. Mankind, 257, in Macro Plays, 10. We xall cum euerychon, Mo þen a goode sorte.
1530[?]. Tindale, Exp. Matt., Prol. 5 b. A great sorte are so feable þat they can nether go forwarde in theyr profession & purpose, nor yet stande.
1551. Turner, Herbal, I. I ij b. If one be set alone … their wil a great sorte within a shorte space growe of that same roote.
1600. Holland, Livy, XXVIII. xi. 676. A great sort were compelled … to repaire againe into their country habitations.
1650. R. Stapylton, Strada’s Low-C. Warres, V. 117. A great sort were drawn in, with the tunes set to the Psalmes, translated … into French meeter.
1796. W. H. Marshall, Yorksh. (ed. 2), II. 346. Sort, many; ‘a good soort,’ a great many.
1855. [Robinson], Whitby Gloss., s.v., There was a good soort there.
† b. Const. of (persons or things). Obs.
Common c. 1550–1630, esp. of persons.
1529. More, Dyalogue, I. Wks. 106/2. Of which two thinges I coulde out of … holy saintes workes gether a good sorte.
1535. Coverdale, Jer. xliv. 15. All the men … & a greate sorte off wyues that stode there.
1578. Timme, Calvin on Gen., 60. The Lord had … enriched him with an innumerable sorte of benefits.
1600. Abbot, Jonah, 617. Young and old, male and female of reasonable creatures, to a very great sort of thousands.
1637. R. Ashley, trans. Malvezzi’s David Persecuted, 257. A great sort of men offend their God in their prosperity, and pray unto him in their adversity.
1681. W. Robertson, Phraseol. Gen., s.v., A great sort of Ships came from all parts.
19. In the same sense as prec. without qualifying adjective. Now dial.
1548. in Strype, Ann. Ref. (1824), VI. 315. If the world shal turn, A sort of you shal burn.
1564. Becon, Wks., I. Pref. A v b. Your wisedomes see, what a sort of vnmete men labour dayly to runne hedlong vnto the ministery.
1597. Middleton, Wisd. Solomon, xiv. 26. See what a sort of rebels are in arms.
1823. E. Moor, Suffolk Words, A sort of loads.
1825. Brockett, N. C. Gloss., Sort, a lot, a parcel, a number.
† 20. A (great, etc.) part or portion of a number of persons or things. Obs.
1566. Painter, Pal. Pleas., II. 55. But the greatest soart of the litle infants were slaine out of hand.
1600. Holland, Livy, V. i. He tooke from them the very plaiers and actors, whereof a great sort were his own servants.
1632. Lithgow, Trav., II. 70. The greater sort of her mercenary sexe.
1669. Sturmy, Mariner’s Mag., Penalties, 7. If any … Person … shall permit any sort of the Package therein to be opened, imbezeled, or altered.
† b. By a great sort, by a great deal; by much. Obs.–1
1579. J. Stubbes, Gaping Gulf, C vij. More loanes of hundred powndes, forty pounds, twenty pounds,… then were euer payd agayn by a great sort.
III. Manner, method or way.
21. In phrases with in: a. Qualified by demonstratives or similar words, as in this, that, such, (the) like, what, etc., sort. Now arch.
Most of these are common from c. 1550.
1533. Bellenden, Livy, II. xi. (S.T.S.), I. 169. Thir tithingis movit þe faderis & commouns in diuers maner and sortis.
1560. Daus, trans. Sleidane’s Comm., 350 b. They can fynde none that wyll go in that sorte.
1577. B. Googe, Heresbach’s Husb., I. (1586), 10. I thought in the like sort the wheele of a mill myght be turned.
1601. J. Wheeler, Treat. Comm., 75. In what sort can her Maiesty … tolerate or suffer that [etc.]?
1670. Dryden, Conq. Granada, I. I. i. If we treat gallant strangers in this sort, Mankind will shun the inhospitable court.
1713. Guardian, No. 1, ¶ 1. Not without some hope of having my Vanity … indulged in the sort above-mentioned.
1782. Cowper, Gilpin, 93. His horse, who never in that sort Had handled been before.
1800. Wordsw., Michael, 207. While in this sort the simple household lived From day to day.
1866. Neale, Sequences & Hymns, 11. But in other sort, that midnight round their watch-fires’ blaze they feast.
1871. Freeman, Norm. Conq., IV. xviii. 287. Stores of corn … men brought together and destroyed in the like sort.
b. With distinguishing adj., as in good, honest, etc., sort. Now rare. † Sometimes with a, any, some, this, etc.
(a) 1548. Geste, Pr. Masse, 81. Yf the signe be counterfayt and fayned, then nedes must the thing be in semblable sorte whyche is betokened.
1585. T. Washington, trans. Nicholay’s Voy., I. v. 35. I haue not seen … a nation … which studieth more in all honest sorte to obtayne the fauour of straungers.
1600. Hakluyt, Voy. (1810), III. 568. Wherein is showed in what good sort we liued with our masters.
1634. Sir T. Herbert, Trav., 79. Hee speedily affronted the Georgians, who receiued him in warlike sort.
1657. Sparrow, Bk. Com. Prayer (1661), 42. He which prays in due sort, is … made the more attentive.
1713. Swift, Faggot, Wks. 1755, IV. I. 8. Stewards … who in solemn sort Appear with slender wands at court.
1784. Cowper, Task, VI. 377. Each animal … growl’d defiance in such angry sort, As taught him, too, to tremble in his turn.
1813. Scott, Trierm., II. xviii. The champions, arm’d in martial sort.
1863. Patmore, Angel in Ho., II. I. x. According to such nuptial sort As may subsist in the holy court.
(b) 1592. Kyd, Sp. Trag., II. i. 100. Giue me notice in some secret sort.
1594. Marlowe & Nashe, Dido, I. i. To wear Their bow and quiver in this modest sort.
1642. D. Rogers, Naaman, 29. Jehoram,… who sent a cursed messenger before him … (met in a holy sort before God in the judgement of famine).
a. 1704. T. Brown, Two Oxford Scholars (1730), I. 9. He did not know how to maintain himself and his family in any tolerable sort.
c. In some sort, in a certain undefined or unknown way; to some extent or degree. Freq. in parenthetic use.
1556. Aurelio & Isab. (1608), H iij. The ladies leaste experimentede and wittey be in some sorte the chasteste.
1597. Morley, Introd. Mus., Ded. To notifie vnto your selfe in some sort the entire loue … which I beare vnto you.
1615. W. Lawson, Country Housew. Gard. (1626), 7. The Sunne (in some sort) is the life of the world.
1653. H. More, Antid. Ath., Pref. For it is the same Numen in us that moves all things in some sort or other.
1711. Steele, Spect., No. 52, ¶ 3. Our personal Deformities in some sort by you recorded to all Posterity.
1780. Mirror, No. 97. Having seen Paris,… she thinks that she is authorised, and, in some sort, obliged to speak French.
1865. Dickens, Mut. Fr., I. vi. She was named after, or in some sort related to, the Abbey at Westminster.
1894. J. T. Fowler, Adamnan, Introd. 17. The Christian hierarchy … in some sort succeeded to the Druids and the Brehons.
d. In a sort, in some sort or manner (see prec.); occas. with implication of inefficiency or inadequacy. † Also in sort.
1585. in Eng. Hist. Rev., Jan. (1913), 55, note. So many reasons … did in a sort work in me a confirmation [etc.].
1592. Kyd, Sp. Trag., III. v. 17. I am in a sorte sorie for thee.
a. 1619. Fotherby, Atheom., II. xi. § 5 (1622), 319. Which carried him vp, in a sorte, into Heauen.
c. 1643. Ld. Herbert, Autobiog. (1824), 62. In Law also the Judge is in a sort superior to his King.
1710. Steele, Tatler, No. 14, ¶ 2. The Criminal … was always sure he stood before his Country, and in a Sort before a Parent of it.
1788. Pict. Tour thro’ Pts. Europe, 3. A garden … wherein the enchantments of that of Armida seem in sort to be realized.
1825. Scott, Jrnl., 6 Dec. H.M. … shoots and fishes in a sort even to this day.
1874. Blackie, Self-Cult., 72. Our only chance of becoming great in a sort is by participation in the greatness of the universe.
† e. In no sort, in no way, to no extent, not at all. Obs.
1570–6. Lambarde, Peramb. Kent (1826), 215. They are in no sorte to be hearde, seeing that by no means they may iustly claime any manner of right in that lande.
a. 1625. Jas. I., Ps. xxiii. 4. Yea, though I through death’s shadow walke, Yet feare I in no sort.
1676. Hale, Contempl., I. 5. The consideration of our latter end doth in no sort make our lives the shorter.
1708. Swift, Sacram. Test, Wks. 1755, II. I. 131. These are, in no sort, a number to carry any point.
1756. C. Lucas, Ess. Waters, III. 70. They will in no sort mix.
† f. In sort, followed by as or that. Obs.
1548. Geste, Pr. Masse, 83. Gelasius … impugneth the sayd transubstanciation as … uncredyble in sorte as followeth.
1594. Carew, Huarte’s Exam. Wits, vi. (1596), 84. To remaine … affixed, in sort as the sparrowes are attached to birdlime.
1605. Bacon, Adv. Learn., II. 91. In all causes the first tale possesseth much, in sorte, that the preiudice thereby wrought will bee hardly remooued.
† g. In all sorts, altogether, completely. Obs.–1
1559. in Tytler, Hist. Scot. (1864), III. 395/2. Your good mind,… which as it is in all sorts undeserved on my side, so am I the more affected unto you therefor.
1611. Cotgr., Totalement, totally,… throughly, in all sorts, altogether.
22. After this, what, etc., sort, after a (…) sort, in the preceding senses.
(a) 1551. Robinson, trans. More’s Utopia, I. (1895), 61. After what sorte hooredome … maye be lawfull.
1569. J. Sanford, trans. Agrippa’s Van. Artes, 15 b. After this sorte the Greek Historiographers … would attribute al thinges to themselves.
1577. B. Googe, Heresbach’s Husb., II. (1586), 57 b. The ordering of them is after one sort.
1604. E. G[rimstone], D’Acosta’s Hist. Indies, IV. iv. 212. They drawe golde in those partes, after three sorts.
(b) 1551. Robinson, trans. More’s Utopia, II. (1895), 132. But nowe the houses be curiously builded, after a gorgiouse and gallaunt sort.
1577. Hanmer, Anc. Eccl. Hist., Euseb., I. vi. (1663), 7. It remaineth that we begin after a compendious sort from the coming of our Saviour Christ in the Flesh.
1592. Timme, Ten Eng. Lepers, A iij. The generall good … hath moved me, though after a plaine and rude sort, to publish the same.
1857. Susanna Winkworth, trans. Life Tauler, 67. The Master … received him after a most friendly sort.
a. 1894. Christina Rossetti, Venus’ Looking-glass, Poems (1904), 289. Around whose head white doves rose … and cooed after their tender sort.
(c) 1557. N. T. (Geneva), Heb. xi. 19. Death: from whence he receaued him also after a sort.
1581. E. Campion, in Conf., III. (1584), Z. Man is also the offerer, after a sort.
1610. Holland, Camden’s Brit. (1637), 632. After a sort he surrendered up his Crowne unto him.
1671. H. M., trans. Erasm. Colloq., 7. Not so well as I desire; truly I am well after a sort.
1724. A. Collins, Gr. Chr. Relig., 153. The first place of Jeremiah was quoted,… and is still extant after a sort.
1837. Carlyle, Fr. Rev., II. II. ii. Captain Dampmartin,… who loves the Reign of Liberty, after a sort.
1879. S. C. Bartlett, Egypt to Pal., xii. 267. Into which the hand, with shut fingers, will fit after a sort.
† 23. a. Of this sort, in this way or manner. Sc. Obs. rare.
1549. Compl. Scot., vi. 38. Of this sort i did spaceir vp ande doune but sleipe. Ibid., ix. 79. Of this sort god turnit the hazard of fortoune.
† b. So On such (a) sort, on this sort. Obs.
1557. Tottel’s Misc. (Arb.), 136. Happy is he, that liues on such a sort: That nedes not feare such tonges of false report.
1585–6. Reg. Privy Council Scot., Ser. I. IV. 50. The saidis personis … on sic sorte persewis the saidis complenaris as thay dar not remane at thair awne duelling houssis.
1597. Beard, Theatre God’s Judgem. (1612), 191. Permitting him to plague him on this sort, for his amendment.
a. 1632. T. Taylor, God’s Judgem., I. II. iv. (1642), 170. But to come to the fact, it was on this sort.
† c. At all sorts, at all points. Obs.–1
1612. W. Shute, trans. Fougasses’s Venice, IV. vii. II. 13. A thousand Archers from Candy, and another thousand armed at all sortes from the Country of Albania.
