SORT, n. L. sors, lot, chance, state, way, sort. This word is form the root of L. sortior the radical sense of which is to start or shoot, to throw or to fall, to come suddenly. Hence sore is lot, chance, that which comes or falls. This sense of sort is probably derivative, signifying that which is thrown out, separated or selected.

1. A kind or species any number or collection of individual persons or thing characterized by the same or like qualities as a sort of men a sort of horses a sort of trees a sort of poems or writings. Sort is not a technical word, and therefore is used with less precision or more latitude than genus or species in the sciences.
2. Manner form of being or acting. Flowers, in such sort worn, can neither be smelt not seen well by those that wear them. To Adam in what sort shall I appear?
3. Class or order as men of the wiser sort, or the better sort all sorts of people. See Def. 1.
4. Rank condition above the vulgar. Not in use.
5. A company or knot of people. Not in use.
6. Degree of any quality. I shall not be wholly without praise, if in some sort I have copied his style.
7. Lot.
8. A pair a set a suit.