Assorted Insanity (a.k.a. English Sucks)
What do you associate with the word, "assorted?" For me, it is a box of assorted chocolates - the kind that are all mixed up so that you can't really tell what's inside the candy until you bite down on it. I mean, these boxes of chocolates almost always have the word "assorted" printed somewhere on the outside. So, for me,
Assorted = Chocolates
A few days ago the Word of the Day that is emailed to me from the Merriam-Webster web site was "assorted." Here's the definition that came with it:
The first definition matched up closely with my own understanding of the word. But I read further and realized an interesting incongruity in my thinking. The second and third definitions imply some kind of order: sorting; arranged; matched. Funny, even though the root word, "sort" is pretty obvious, I'd never thought of this word as having anything to do with order - it was always miscellany/chaotic/unorganized to me.
So, does anyone use "assorted" to refer to something that's been sorted? Something that has varying parts, but which parts have been grouped together by some kind of sorting process? Not me. And I'm kind of ticked off that I never thought about it before. I mean, the word even says "sorted" in it!
I dunno. The weirdness probably comes from some long-forgotten, but gruesome past.
Stupid English with its sordid origins.
Assorted = Chocolates
A few days ago the Word of the Day that is emailed to me from the Merriam-Webster web site was "assorted." Here's the definition that came with it:
as·sort·ed [uh-sawr-tid] – adjective
tɪd| 1. | consisting of different or various kinds; miscellaneous: assorted flavors; assorted sizes. |
| 2. | consisting of selected kinds; arranged in sorts or varieties: rows of assorted vegetables. |
| 3. | matched; suited. |
The first definition matched up closely with my own understanding of the word. But I read further and realized an interesting incongruity in my thinking. The second and third definitions imply some kind of order: sorting; arranged; matched. Funny, even though the root word, "sort" is pretty obvious, I'd never thought of this word as having anything to do with order - it was always miscellany/chaotic/unorganized to me.
So, does anyone use "assorted" to refer to something that's been sorted? Something that has varying parts, but which parts have been grouped together by some kind of sorting process? Not me. And I'm kind of ticked off that I never thought about it before. I mean, the word even says "sorted" in it!
I dunno. The weirdness probably comes from some long-forgotten, but gruesome past.
Stupid English with its sordid origins.
posted by The O at
2:12 PM
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