kind

Etymology 1

From Middle English kynde, kunde, cunde, icunde, from Old English cynd, ġecynd (“inherent nature, disposition, kind, gender, generation, race”), from Proto-West Germanic *kundi, from Proto-Germanic *kinþiz, related to Proto-Germanic *kunją (“race, kin”) and Old English cennan (“to bear, give birth”). Cognate with Old High German gikunt (“nature, kind”), Icelandic kind (“race, species, kind”). Doublet of gens, genesis, and jati. See also kin.

noun

1. A type, race or category; a group of entities that have common characteristics such that they may be grouped together.
   What kind of a person are you?
   This is a strange kind of tobacco.
   “[…] the awfully hearty sort of Christmas cards that people do send to other people that they don't know at all well. You know. The kind that have mottoes like Here's rattling good luck and roaring good cheer, / With lashings of food and great hogsheads of beer. […]” 1922, Ben Travers, chapter 1, in A Cuckoo in the Nest
   That in virtue of which all of his material parts are of the same kind human being is what makes those parts belong to Hook, but Hook is neither identical with his kind (the essence of human being), nor is Hook merely that which makes him a member of the kind or all his parts human (his soul). 2022, James Dominic Rooney, Material Objects in Confucian and Aristotelian Metaphysics, page 166
2. A makeshift or otherwise atypical specimen.
   The opening served as a kind of window.
3. (archaic) One's inherent nature; character, natural disposition.
   Must yt nedes folowe that theyr fayth was chaunged in kynde, bycause yt was augmented in degrees. 1533, Thomas More, The second parte of the confutacion of Tyndals answere in whyche is also confuted the chyrche that Tyndale deuyseth
   The generall woorde, is spoken of many, that differ either in kynd, or els in nombre. 1551, Thomas Wilson, The rule of reason, conteinyng the arte of logique
   'Tis all one..whether our Afflictions be the same with those of others, in Kind, or not Superiour to them in Degree. 1665, Robert Boyle, Occasional Reflections upon Several Subjects. Whereto is premis'd a Discourse about such kind of thoughts
   He also argued powerfully, if less influentially, that animals' and humans' capacities differ largely in degree and not in kind. 2002, D. DeGrazia, Animal Rights
4. (archaic) Family, lineage.
   My young love said to me, My mother won’t mind And my father won’t slight you for your lack of kind. "She Moved through the Fair" (traditional Irish folk song)
5. (archaic) Manner.
6. Goods or services used as payment, as e.g. in barter.
   Some of you, on pure instinct of nature, / Are led by kind t'admire your fellow-creature. 1691, John Dryden, Prologue to King Arthur
7. Equivalent means used as response to an action.
   I'll pay in kind for his insult.
8. (Christianity) Each of the two elements of the communion service, bread and wine.

Etymology 2

From Middle English kinde, kunde, kende, from Old English cynde, ġecynde (“innate, natural, native”), from Old English cynd, ġecynd (“nature, kind”).

adj

1. Having a benevolent, courteous, friendly, generous, gentle, liberal, sympathetic, or warm-hearted nature or disposition, marked by consideration for – and service to – others.
2. Affectionate.
   a kind man; a kind heart
3. Favorable.
4. Mild, gentle, forgiving
   The years have been kind to Richard Gere; he ages well.
5. Gentle; tractable; easily governed.
   a horse kind in harness
6. (obsolete) Characteristic of the species; belonging to one's nature; natural; native.