Word.ws English Dictionary

sundry

Syllables: sund·ryUK/ˈsʌnd.ɹi/

More pronunciations (1)Fewer pronunciations

Scotland/ˈsɪndɹɪ/

sundry adjective: more than one or two but not very many; a number of, several.

Adjective

sundry

  1. More than one or two but not very many; a number of, several.
    • Dearely beloued brethren, the ſcripture moueth vs in ſondrye places, to acknowledge and confeſſe our manyfolde ſynnes and wyckedneſſe, […]1552, Thomas Cranmer [et al.], compilers, “An Ordre for Morninge Prayer Dayly throughout the Yeare”, in The Boke of Common Prayer, and Administration of the Sacramentes, […], 2nd edition, London: […]...
    • Ennius an olde auncient Latin poet, & of great authoritee, whom Cicero verie often times citeth in ſondrie his werkes.1564 February, Erasmus, “The Saiynges of Marcus Tullius Cicero”, in Nicolas Udall [i.e., Nicholas Udall], transl., Apophthegmes, that is to Saie, Prompte, Quicke, Wittie and Sentẽcious Saiynges, […]...
  2. Of various types, especially when numerous; diverse, varied.
    • On the outskirts were various rude booths, in which whiskey and water, and sundry articles of provision, and fodder for horses, were dispensed for a consideration.1856, Harriet Beecher Stowe, “The Camp-meeting”, in Dred; a Tale of the Great Dismal Swamp. […], volume I, Boston, Mass.: Phillips, Sampson and Company, →OCLC, page 297
    Synonyms:
    manifold
  3. Consisting of an assortment of different kinds; miscellaneous.
    • For vvhat reaſon is there vvᶜʰ ſhould but induce, and therfore much leſſe enforce vs to thinke, that care of diſſimilitude betvveene the people of God & the heathen nations about them, vvas any more the cauſe of forbidding them to put on garments of ſundry ſtuffe then of charging them vvithall not...[1594], Richard Hooker, “That the Course which the Wisdome of God doth Teach, Maketh Not against Our Conformity with the Church of Rome in Such Things”, in J[ohn] S[penser], editor, Of the Lawes of...
    • [I]t is a melancholy of mine ovvne, compounded of many ſimples, extracted from many obiects, and indeed the ſundrie contemplation of my trauells, in which by often rumination, vvraps me in a most humorous ſadneſſe.c. 1598–1600 (date written), William Shakespeare, “As You Like It”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount...
  4. (archaic) Chiefly preceded by a number or an adjective like many: of two or more similar people or things: not the same as other persons or things of the same nature; different, distinct, separate. (Contrast sense 5.2.)
    • Galene, and Paule conteyne aſcyron vnder androſemo: but [Pedanius] Dioscorides deſcrybeth thes herbes ſeuerally, & ſo maketh them ſondry herbes.1551, Wylliam Turner [i.e., William Turner], “Of Great Saint Johnes Wurte, Ascyron”, in A New Herball, […], London: […] Steven Mierdman, and they are to be soolde […] by John Gybken, →OCLC, folio 26...
    • Here I had ended, but Experience finds, / That ſundry VVomen are of ſundry Minds; / VVith various Crochets fill'd, and hard to pleaſe, / They therefore muſt be caught by various VVays.a. 1701, [John] Dryden, “Book I”, in Ovid, Ovid’s Art of Love. […], London: […] Jacob Tonson […], published 1709, →OCLC, page 55
    Synonyms:
    other
  5. (obsolete) Relating to a single person or thing as opposed to more than one; individual, respective.
    • For the heathen supposing that the whole word, and all the creatures therein, was too great a diocese to be daily visited by one and the same Deity, they therefore assigned sundry gods to several creatures.1640, Thomas Fuller, “How Far Examples are to be Followed”, in Ioseph’s Partie-coloured Coat: Containing, a Comment on Part of the II. Chapter of the I. Epistle of S. Paul to the Corinthians. […]...
    Synonyms:
    personal, single
  6. (obsolete) Of a person or thing: not the same as something else; different. (Contrast sense 4.)
    • Where as ſome men thynke now yͭ many tranſlacyons [of the Bible] make diuiſyon in yͤ fayth and in the people of God, yͭ is not ſo: for it was neuer better with the congregacion of god, then whan euery church allmoſt had yͤ Byble of a ſondrye trãſlacion.1535 October 14 (Gregorian calendar), Myles Coverdale, “A Prologe. Myles Coverdale unto the Christen Reader.”, in Biblia: The Byble, […] (Coverdale Bible), [Cologne or Marburg]: [Eucharius...
    • Carduus called in latin Scolimus after Galene, Aetius & Paulus is a ſundry herbe frõ Cinara.1548, William Turner, “Carduus”, in The Names of Herbes in Greke, Latin, Englishe Duche & Frenche wyth the Commune Names that Herbaries and Apotecaries Use. […], London: […] [Steven Mierdman for]...
  7. (obsolete, except Scotland) Not attached or connected to anything else; physically separate.
    • The diſtance of place doth not lett nor hinder the Spiritual Communion vvhich is betvveen one and another, ſo that John and Thomas vvhereſoever they be, far and ſundry, or near together, being both lively Members of Chriſt, receive either of others Goodneſs ſome Commodity; […]1681, Gilbert Burnet, “[A Collection of Records, and Original Papers; with Other Instruments Referred to in the Second Part of the History of the Reformation of the Church of England.] Book I. Number...

Noun

sundry (plural sundries)

  1. (in plural) A minor miscellaneous item.
    • […] I am firmly perſuaded the vvhole pitiful 30 l. came pure and neat into the captain's pocket, and not only ſo, but attended vvith the value of 10 l. more in ſundries, into the bargain.a. 1755 (date written), Henry Fielding, The Journal of a Voyage to Lisbon, […], London: […] A[ndrew] Millar, […], published 1755, →OCLC, page 182
    • Here she kept her scarlet cloak, her Sunday shoes, her best cap and apron, and her steeple-crowned hat; but down at the very bottom, underneath her new checked petticoat, she found a little bag of sundries, which might serve her purpose, and which she sat down to examine at her leisure.1865, Frances Freeling Broderip, “Crosspatch, the Cricket, and the Counterpane”, in Crosspatch, the Cricket, and the Counterpane: A Patchwork of Story and Song, London: Griffith and Farran...
    1. (in plural) A food item eaten as an accompaniment to a meal; a side dish; also, such an item eaten on its own as a light meal.
      • […] Mr. Alexander Trott sat down to a fried sole, maintenon cutlet, Madeira, and sundries, with much greater composure than he had experienced since the receipt of Horace Hunter's letter of defiance.1836 February 8, “Boz” [pseudonym; Charles Dickens], “The Great Winglebury Duel”, in Sketches by “Boz,” Illustrative of Every-day Life, and Every-day People. […], volume II, London: John Macrone...
      • It happened that about this time, Mr. Giles, Brittles, and the tinker were recruiting themselves after the fatigues and terrors of the night, with tea and sundries in the kitchen.1838, Boz [pseudonym; Charles Dickens], “Looks after Oliver, and Proceeds with His Adventures”, in Oliver Twist; […], volume II, London: Richard Bentley, […], →OCLC, page 145
  2. (Australia, in plural) Synonym of extra (“a run scored without the ball having hit the striker's bat”).
    • The wicketkeeper for Williamstown had a bad day, as sundries topped the score with 30.1954, Percy Taylor, Richmond’s 100 Years of Cricket: The Story of the Richmond Cricket Club, 1854–1954, South Melbourne, Melbourne, Vic,: C. G. Meehan & Co., →OCLC
    • In the modern era I sometimes feel the emphasis has erroneously shifted towards placing unwarranted importance on how few sundries are recorded.1969, Donald Bradman, The Art of Cricket, revised edition, London: Robson Books, published 1998, →ISBN, page 167
    Synonyms:
    extra

Pronoun

sundry (plural, archaic sundries)

  1. (Northern England, Scotland, in plural, plural) Various people or things; several.
    • The not underſtanding of which has made ſundry in vain attempt to predict events foretold, in the Apocalypſe to the accurateneſs of a Prophetical Day, […]1680, Henry More, “Notes. Chapter XII. Vers[e] 6.”, in Apocalypsis Apocalypseos; or The Revelation of St John the Divine Unveiled. […], London: […] J. M. for J[ohn] Martyn, and W. Kettilby, […]...
    • To be the bride of Christ was the thought that filled her heart; and when, at the fencing of the tables Doctor Chrystal preached from Matthew nine and fifteen, "Can the children of the bride-chamber mourn as long as the bridegroom is with them?" it was remarked by sundry that Ailie's face was liker...1902 January, John Buchan, “The Outgoing of the Tide”, in The Watcher by the Threshold, and Other Tales, Edinburgh; London: William Blackwood and Sons, published 1902, →OCLC, page 234

Adverb

sundry (comparative more sundry, superlative most sundry)

  1. (Northern England, Scotland, in plural) Synonym of asunder (“into separate parts or pieces”).
    • [O]ur joynts have almost been pulled sundry, with driving in hackney coaches throu all corners, amongst our great men, for some weeks; […]1712 April 28 (Gregorian calendar), Thomas Blackwell, “XIV. Mr. Blackwell to Provost Ross.”, in John Stuart, editor, The Miscellany of the Spalding Club, volume I, Aberdeen: […] [William Bennett] for...
    Synonyms:
    asunder
  2. (Northern England, Scotland, archaic, in plural) Placed separately; apart.
    • [T]he church of Epheſus, or, of any certain place, includeth all the profeſſors living there; they are accounted of that church, and no other, as providence hath put them together: and the churches are divided as they live ſundry.1658, James Durham, “Lecture V”, in A Learned and Complete Commentary upon the Book of the Revelation. […], Glasgow: […] David Niven, for James Spencer, […], published 1788, →OCLC, paragraph 5, page...
  3. (Northern England, Scotland, in plural, obsolete) Individually, separately; sundrily.
    • Theſe three in theſe three rovvmes did ſondry dvvell, / And counſelled faire Alma, hovv to gouerne vvell.1590, Edmund Spenser, “Book II, Canto IX”, in The Faerie Queene. […], London: […] [John Wolfe] for William Ponsonbie, →OCLC, stanza 48, page 320

sundry meaning in Tamil, Urdu, Bengali and Malayalam

sundry in Tamil

சில்லறை இனம், பலவகைப்பட்ட, சில்லறையான

sundry in Urdu

کئی, پھٹکل, پھٹکر

sundry in Bengali

নানা প্রকার, বিবিধ

sundry in Malayalam

അനേകം, പലവകയായ, നാനാപ്രകാരമുള്ള
More languagesFewer languages
sundry in Kannada
ಚಿಲ್ಲರೆ ಪದಾರ್ಥಗಳು, ಚಿಲ್ಲರೆ ಬಾಬುಗಳು, ಚಿಲ್ಲರೆ ಕೆಲಸಗಳು, ಚಿಲ್ಲರೆ
sundry in Gujarati
અલગ alag

Examples of sundry in a sentence

  • VVith this ſtrange vertue, / He hath a heauenly guift of Propheſie, / And ſundry Bleſſings hang about his Throne, / That ſpeake him full of Grace.c. 1606 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Tragedie of Macbeth”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […]...
  • The VVater Souldier hath divers and ſundry long narrovv leaves pointed ſet cloſe together ſomevvhat like unto the leaves of Aloes for the forme, […]1640, John Parkinson, “Stratiotes sive Militaris Aizoides. Water Souldier.”, in Theatrum Botanicum: The Theater of Plants. Or, An Herball...
  • He is a man of such desperate ardour!" said the smooth secretary, whom Mr Dennis corroborated with sundry nods and muttered oaths—"Once roused, he is a fellow of such fierce determination!"1841 February–November, Charles Dickens, “Barnaby Rudge. Chapter 50.”, in Master Humphrey’s Clock, volume III, London: Chapman & Hall, […]...
  • O woman, for sundry days I have seen thee attend the levée sans a word said; so tell me an thou have any requirement I may grant.1887, Richard F[rancis] Burton, transl. and editor, “Alaeddin; or, The Wonderful Lamp. [Night 547.]”, in Supplemental Nights to the Book of...

All 18 example sentences with sundry

Synonyms of sundry

30 more synonymsFewer synonyms

Antonyms

All synonyms and antonyms of sundry

Forms of sundry

Adjective
alternative formsindry
Noun
pluralsundries
Pronoun
archaicsundries
Adverb
comparativemore sundry
superlativemost sundry

Origin of sundry

The adjective is derived from Middle English sondri, sondry, syndry (“individually; occasionally; separately; variously”) [and other forms], from Old English syndriġ (“alone, distinct, separate, single; sundry, various; concerning a single person, own, particular, peculiar, private; exceptional, remarkable, set apart, special; (distributive) one each”) [and other forms], from sundor (“differently; privately; separate, separately”) (from Proto-Germanic *sundraz (“alone, isolated; separate”), ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *senH- (“apart; for oneself; without”)) + -iġ (“suffix forming adjectives”). The English word is analysable as sunder + -y. The noun and pronoun are derived from the adjective. Cognates * Dutch zonderlijk (“separate”) (rare), Dutch afzonderlijk (“separate”) * Low German sunderig (“single; special”) * Middle High German sunderig (“private; separate; special”) * Swedish söndrig (“broken; tattered”)

From Middle English sondri, sondry, syndri (“individually; now and then, occasionally; physically apart, separately; variously”) [and other forms], from Old English syndrige [and other forms], from Old English syndriġ (adjective): see further at etymology 1. Cognates * Old High German suntarīgo

Words formed from sundry

Questions about sundry

What does sundry mean?
Sundry means more than one or two but not very many; a number of, several.
What is sundry in Tamil?
Sundry in Tamil is சில்லறை இனம், பலவகைப்பட்ட, சில்லறையான. See Sundry meaning in Tamil.
How do you use sundry in a sentence?
VVith this ſtrange vertue, / He hath a heauenly guift of Propheſie, / And ſundry Bleſſings hang about his Throne, / That ſpeake him full of Grace.
What part of speech is sundry?
Sundry can be an adjective, a noun, a pronoun or an adverb.
How do you pronounce sundry?
Sundry is pronounced /ˈsʌnd.ɹi/ (UK).

Words near sundry in the dictionary

  1. sundrily
  2. sundriness
  3. sundris
  4. sundrops
  5. sundrous
  6. sundry
  7. sundryman
  8. sundrymen
  9. SUNDS
  10. Sundstrom
  11. Sundstroms

Source and license

Adapted from Wiktionary: sundry (page history and authors); sundry (Tamil Wiktionary) (page history and authors); sundry (Urdu Wiktionary) (page history and authors); sundry (Bengali Wiktionary) (page history and authors); sundry (Malayalam Wiktionary) (page history and authors); sundry (Kannada Wiktionary) (page history and authors); અલગ (Gujarati) (page history and authors). Text available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 license. Word.ws reformatted the entry and added links. Wiktionary data of 2026-09-02.

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Cite this entry: “sundry.” Word.ws, https://word.ws/sundry. Based on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.