subs. (colloquial).—SORT (= kind) in its colloquial usages is frequently elliptical. Thus, ‘THAT’S YOUR SORT’ (of method, fancy, thing, &c.); ‘AFTER A SORT’ (of fashion—‘well enough of its kind’); A GOOD (or BAD) SORT (of man, fellow, lot, &c.). OUT OF SORTS = (1) SEEDY (q.v.); (2) = cross, depressed; and (3) = old, destitute. SORTER (American) = sort of.
d. 1536. TYNDALE, Works, i. 274 [T. L. KINGTON-OLIPHANT, The New English, i. 433. SORT stands for homo, much as we say he is a bad lot].
1590. E. WEBBE, Travels (ARBER), 34. Now to … declare vnto you in what SORT I imploide my selfe since my first entring into Englande.
1595. SHAKESPEARE, 3 Henry VI., v. 5. Now march we hence: discharge the COMMON SORT with pay and thanks. Ibid. (1609), Tempest, ii. 1, 102. Is not, sir, my doublet as fresh as the first day I wore it? I mean, IN A SORT.
1603–15. The Court and Times of Charles the First, I. 6. The Duke’s journey to France is laid down: and yet they say the business goeth on IN A SORT.
1622. FLETCHER, The Prophetess, iii. 1. Give your petitions in seemly SORT, and keep your hats off decently.
1678. RAY, Proverbs, 304. Many a man of good extraction coming home from far voyages, may chance to land here, and, being OUT OF SORTS, is unable for the present time and place to recruit himself with clothes.
1680. BETTERTON, Revenge, iv. Why girl … you’re all OUT OF SORTS: I thought thy tongue and heels could never have been idle.
1779. BURNEY, Diary, Jan., ‘To Mr. Crisp.’ I was most violently OUT OF SORTS, and really had not spirits to answer it.
1782. BURNEY, Cecilia (1778), v. 308 [T. L. KINGTON-OLIPHANT, The New English, ii. 192. Men are described as being OUT OF SORTS, a new phrase].
1792. T. HOLCROFT, The Road to Ruin, ii. 1. Gold. (passim) THAT’S YOUR SORT!
1817. SCOTT, Rob Roy, xxvi. He has a kind o’ Hieland honesty—he’s honest AFTER A SORT, as they say.
1843. W. T. PORTER, ed., The Big Bear of Arkansas, etc., 126. He was breathin’ SORTER hard.
1851. HAWTHORNE, The House of the Seven Gables, viii. No wonder you are OUT OF SORTS, my little cousin. To be an inmate with such a guest may well startle an innocent young girl!
1859. THACKERAY, The Virginians, xv. ‘You were hurt by the betting just now?’ ‘Well,’ replied the lad, ‘I am SORT O’ hurt.’
