'assortment' originates from Old French, specifically the word 'assortiment' (from the verb 'assortir'), where the prefix 'a-' (from Latin 'ad-') suggested 'to/toward' and 'sort' came from Latin 'sors' meaning 'lot' or 'kind'.

'assortment' changed from Old French 'assortiment' (and the verb 'assortir') into Middle English forms such as 'assorten' and eventually became the modern English noun 'assortment'.

Initially it was related to bringing things into agreement or arranging (to 'make of the same sort' or 'fit together'), but over time it evolved to mean a collection or variety of items ('a mixed collection').