■ noun
1》 a category of people or things with a common feature.
↘ informal a person with a specified nature.
2》 Computing the arrangement of data in a prescribed sequence.
3》 archaic a manner or way.
■ verb
1》 arrange systematically in groups.
↘separate from a mixed group.
↘( ~ through ) look at in succession for classification or to make a selection.
2》 ( ~ someone/thing out ) resolve a problem or difficulty.
↘( ~ someone out ) informal deal with a troublesome person.
Phrases
in some ~ dated to some extent.
of a ~ (or of ~s ) of a somewhat unusual or inferior kind.
out of ~s slightly unwell or unhappy.
~ of informal to some extent.
Derivatives
~able adjective
~er noun
Origin
ME: from OFr. ~e , from an alt. of L. sors , ~- 'lot, condition'.
Usage
The construction these ~ of , as in I don't want to answer these ~ of questions , is ungrammatical and should be avoided in formal writing. This is because these is plural and needs to agree with a plural noun; the correct usage is these ~s of questions . See also usage at kind 1 .