| E. Cobham Brewer 1810–1897. Dictionary of Phrase and Fable. 1898. |
| | | Sorts. | | |
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Out of sorts. Not in good health and spirits. The French être dérangé explains the metaphor. If cards are out of sorts they are deranged, and if a person is out of sorts the health or spirits are out of order. | 1 |
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In printers’ language it means out of some particular letter, in which case they substitute for a time another letter. | 2 |
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To run upon sorts. In printing, said of work which requires an unusual number of certain letters, etc.; as an index, which requires a disproportionate number of capitals. | 3 |
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