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of a kind

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kind

2  [kahynd]
Use of a kind in a Sentence
–noun
1. a class or group of individual objects, people, animals, etc., of the same nature or character, or classified together because they have traits in common; category: Our dog is the same kind as theirs.
2. nature or character as determining likeness or difference between things: These differ in degree rather than in kind.
3. a person or thing as being of a particular character or class: He is a strange kind of hero.
4. a more or less adequate or inadequate example of something; sort: The vines formed a kind of roof.
5. Archaic.
a. the nature, or natural disposition or character.
b. manner; form.
6. Obsolete. gender; sex.
—Idioms
7. in kind,
a. in something of the same kind or in the same way as that received or borne: They will be repaid in kind for their rudeness.
b. in goods, commodities, or services rather than money: In colonial times, payment was often made in kind.
8. kind of, Informal. to some extent; somewhat; rather: The room was kind of dark.
9. of a kind, of the same class, nature, character, etc.: They are two of a kind.
Origin:
bef. 900; ME kinde, OE gecynd nature, race, origin; c. ON kyndi, OHG kikunt, L gēns (gen. gentis); see kin

Synonyms:
1. order, genus, species; race, breed; set.

Usage note:
The phrase these (or those) kind of, followed by a plural noun (these kind of flowers; those kind of shoes) is frequently condemned as ungrammatical because it is said to combine a plural demonstrative (these; those) with a singular noun, kind. Historically, kind is an unchanged or unmarked plural noun like deer, folk, sheep, and swine, and the construction these kind of is an old one, occurring in the writings of Shakespeare, Swift, Jane Austen, and, in modern times, Jimmy Carter and Winston Churchill. Kind has also developed the plural kinds, evidently because of the feeling that the old pattern was incorrect. These kind of nevertheless persists in use, esp. in less formal speech and writing. In edited, more formal prose, this kind of and these kinds of are more common. Sort of has been influenced by the use of kind as an unchanged plural: these sort of books. This construction too is often considered incorrect and appears mainly in less formal speech and writing.
Kind (or sort) of as an adverbial modifier meaning “somewhat” occurs in informal speech and writing: Sales have been kind (or sort) of slow these last few weeks.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
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kind 2   (kīnd)   
n.  

    1. A group of individuals or instances sharing common traits; a category or sort: different kinds of furniture; a new kind of politics.

    2. A doubtful or borderline member of a given category: fashioned a kind of shelter; a kind of bluish color.

    3. Underlying character as a determinant of the class to which a thing belongs; nature or essence.

    4. The natural order or course of things; nature.

    5. Manner or fashion.

  2. Archaic

    1. Underlying character as a determinant of the class to which a thing belongs; nature or essence.

    2. The natural order or course of things; nature.

    3. Manner or fashion.


[Middle English, from Old English gecynd, race, offspring, kind; see genə- in Indo-European roots.]
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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Word Origin & History

kind  (adj.)
"friendly," from O.E. gecynde "natural, native, innate," originally "with the feeling of relatives for each other," from P.Gmc. *gakundiz, from *kunjan (see kin), with collective prefix *ga- and abstract suffix *-iz. Sense development from "with natural feelings," to "well-disposed" (c.1300), "benign, compassionate" (1297). Kindly (adj.) is O.E. gecyndelic. Kind-hearted is from 1535; kindness is from c.1290.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper
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Legal Dictionary

Main Entry: kind
Function: noun
1 : a particular type, category, or class kind> —see also LIKE-KIND EXCHANGE
2 a : an unconverted form kind>; broadly : a form other than money kind> —see also IN-KIND b : the equivalent in value kind>
Merriam-Webster's Dictionary of Law, © 1996 Merriam-Webster, Inc.
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Idioms & Phrases

of a kind

  1. Of some sort, but not a typical or perfect specimen. For example, They have a backyard of a kind, but it's tiny. This usage was first recorded in 1895. For a synonym, see of sorts.

  2. one of a kind. A unique instance, as in There are no others like it; this hybrid daylily is one of a kind, or She's extremely generous, one of a kind. Also see two of a kind.

The American Heritage® Dictionary of Idioms by Christine Ammer.
Copyright © 1997. Published by Houghton Mifflin.
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