In a manner; “kind of.”
1833. It sort o’ stirs one up, to hear about old times.—James Hall, ‘Legends of the West,’ p. 50 (Phila.). (Italics in the original.)
1833. [The carriage had] sort o’ silk curtings.—Id., p. 185. (For fuller quotation see FIXINGS.]
1843. The sight of the cheerful porgies comin’ up on the hook may sort o’ revive you, and make you forget your suff’rin’s.—Cornelius Mathews, ‘Writings,’ p. 34.
1846. I giv Jule a kiss to sorter molify my natur an put her in heart like, and in we walked.—W. T. Porter, ed., ‘A Quarter Race in Kentucky,’ etc., p. 85.
1846, 1847. See SLANTINDICULAR.
1847. Next mornin’ when we waked it was sorter cloudy and warm, and I and Jem were cloudy and warm too.—T. B. Thorpe, ‘The Big Bear of Arkansas: Chunkey’s Fight,’ p. 133 (Phila.).
1848. See SABBERDAY. See SAVAGEROUS.
1855. I’ll be durned if I didn’t feel like sorter stealin’ a hoss sometimes.—Oregon Weekly Times, May 12.
1860. Children always have a half-notion that animals, and insects, and for that matter a great many unanimated things, can sort of see as we do, sort of think.—Knick. Mag., lvi. 290 (Sept.).
1860. The Lane-men “sorter” grinned satisfaction.—Oregon Argus, July 28.
1866. Congress have sorter compromised the fuss by our increasing bonds to fifty thousand dollars!—C. H. Smith, ‘Bill Arp,’ p. 69.
