assortv.
/əˈsɔːt/, U.S. /əˈsɔrt/ 1. transitive. To distribute (things, rarely persons) into groups, as being of like nature or intended for the same purpose; to arrange in sorts, classify.
ΚΠ
1490 W. Caxton tr. Eneydos xv. 54 And chose theym one from the other for to assorte theym.
1611 R. Cotgrave Dict. French & Eng. Tongues at Assortir To sort, assort..order severall things handsomely; also, to furnish, or store with all sorts of.
1775 E. Burke Speech Amer. Taxation 44 The colleagues whom he had assorted at the same boards.
1803 J. Porter Thaddeus of Warsaw (1831) xiv. 128 Assorting some parcels on the counter.
2. transitive. To class, place (a thing or person) in the same group with others.
ΚΠ
1833 I. Taylor Fanaticism v. 89 The companions with whom we found ourselves assorted.
1861 C. Dickens Great Expectations I. xvi. 259 He would..assort it with the fabulous dogs and veal-cutlets as a monstrous invention.
3. intransitive. To fall into a class, take one's place fitly; to be of a sort, match, suit well or ill with.
ΘΚΠ
the world > relative properties > order > agreement, harmony, or congruity > agree, harmonize, or be congruous with [verb (transitive)] > go with or match
to fall in1577
to go with ——1710
match1722
assort1800
neighbour1820
1800 W. Taylor in Monthly Mag. 10 424 His Muse assorts ill with the personages of Christian mythology.
a1856 W. Hamilton Lect. Metaphysics (1859) II. xxxvii. 335 Finding that it is harmonious,—that it dovetails and naturally assorts with other parts.
4. intransitive. To consort, keep company, associate with.
ΘΚΠ
society > society and the community > social relations > association, fellowship, or companionship > a companion or associate > accompany or associate with [verb (transitive)]
seeOE
to bear (a person) company (also fellowship, etc.)c1225
mella1300
fellowshipa1382
companya1400
accompany1461
to keep company (with)1502
encompanya1513
to keep (a person) company1517
to take repast1517
assist1553
to take up with1570
rempare1581
to go along with1588
amate1590
bear1590
to fall in1593
consort1598
second1600
to walk (also travel) in the way with1611
comitate1632
associate1644
enhaunt1658
join1713
assort1823
sit1828
companionize1870
to take tea with1888
to knock about with1915
tote1977
fere-
1823 C. Lamb in London Mag. July 24/1 I could abide..to assort with fisher-swains.
1861 J. Pycroft Agony Point (1862) vii. 81 She assorted with those of an age at which, etc.
5. transitive. To furnish with an assortment.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > possession > supply > provide or supply (something) [verb (transitive)] > provide or supply (a person or thing) with anything > with an assortment
assort1885
Cf. 1611 in 1. ]
1790 E. Burke Refl. Revol. in France 15 The well-assorted warehouses of the dissenting congregations. View more context for this quotation
1885 N.E.D. at Assort Mod. We have sent orders for some white goods to assort our store.
This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1885; most recently modified version published online December 2021).
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