Assort

/əˈsɔːrt/ verb

Definition

To arrange or organize things into groups based on their type, size, or other characteristics.

Etymology

From Old French 'assortir' (to match), composed of 'a-' (to) and 'sorte' (sort, kind). The meaning evolved from 'to match pairs' to the broader sense of organizing mixed items into categories.

Kelly Says

This word is the root of 'assortment,' which changed retail forever—the idea that stores should stock many different varieties of one product type is relatively modern and helped create the department store concept we know today.

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