sort
/sɔːrt/
noun
Origin
Latin
sors — lot, fate, or destiny
Overview
Meaning Now
- A category or class of things sharing common characteristics.
- A person's character or nature, typically used with an adjective.
Literal older meaning
a lot, a portion, or a group
Language path
Latin → Old French → English
Earliest form
sorte
Earliest period
14th century
Journey
The word stems from the Latin 'sors', referring to the casting of lots to determine fate. Over time, the meaning evolved from a random 'lot' or 'share' to a 'set' of similar items, and eventually to the modern sense of 'type' or 'class'.
Evolution
- Latin
sors
“lot, share, or destiny”
- Old French
sorte
“kind, class, or fate”
- Middle English
sort
“a group, collection, or type”
Connections
Word parts
sort
root
type, class
Related across languages
French
sorte
kind or type
Italian
sorte
fate or destiny
Explore next
Related to sort
External references use DefinedTerm semantics.