“some” – English explanatory dictionary

adj, pron 1. a certain number of ○ We’ve just picked some strawberries. ○ Some young drivers drive much too fast. ○ Some books were damaged in the fire. ○ Some days it was so hot that we just stayed by the swimming pool all day. ○ Can you cut some more slices of bread? ○ She bought some oranges and bananas. □ some of a few ○ Some of the students are ill. ○ Some of these apples are too green. 2. a certain amount ○ Can you buy some bread when you go to town? ○ Can I have some more coffee? ○ Her illness is of some concern to her family. 3. referring to a person or thing you cannot identify (followed by a singular noun) ○ Some man just knocked on the door and tried to sell me a magazine. ○ I read it in some book I borrowed from the library. ○ We saw it in some shop or other in Regent Street. 4. referring to a period of time or a distance ○ Don’t wait for me, I may be some time. ○ Their house is some way away from the railway station. 5. wonderful ○ That was some party last night! (NOTE: some is used with plural nouns and with nouns which have no plural: some people, some apples, some bread.) ■ adv approximately ○ Some fifty people came to the meeting. ○ The house is some sixty years old.

(sum), a. [OE. som, sum, AS. sum; akin to OS., OFries., & OHG. sum, OD. som, D. sommig, Icel. sumr, Dan. somme (pl.), Sw. somlige (pl.), Goth. sums, and E. same. rad.191. See Same, a., and cf. -some.]
1. Consisting of a greater or less portion or sum; composed of a quantity or number which is not stated; — used to express an indefinite quantity or number; as some wine; some water; some persons. Used also pronominally; as I have some. “Some theoretical writers allege that there was a time when there was no such thing as society.” Blackstone.
2. A certain; one; — indicating a person, thing, event, etc., as not known individually, or designated more specifically; as some man, that is, some one man. ´Some brighter clime.´ Mrs. Barbauld. “Some man praiseth his neighbor by a wicked intent.” Chaucer. “Most gentlemen of property, at some period or other of their lives, are ambitious of representing their county in Parliament.” Blackstone.
3. Not much; a little; moderate; as the censure was to some extent just.
4. About; near; more or less; — used commonly with numerals, but formerly also with a singular substantive of time or distance; as a village of some eighty houses; some two or three persons; some hour hence. Shak. “The number slain on the rebel’s part were some two thousand.” Bacon.
5. Considerable in number or quantity. ´Bore us some leagues to sea.´ Shak. “On its outer point, some miles away.
The lighthouse lifts its massive masonry.” Longfellow.
6. Certain; those of one part or portion; — in distinction from other or others; as some men believe one thing, and others another. “Some [seeds] fell among thorns; … but other fell into good ground.” Matt. xiii. 7, 8.
7. A part; a portion; — used pronominally, and followed sometimes by of; as some of our provisions. “Your edicts some reclaim from sins,
But most your life and blest example wins.” Dryden. All and some, one and all. See under All, adv. [Obs.] The illiterate in the United States and Scotland often use some as an adverb, instead of somewhat, or an equivalent expression; as I am some tired; he is some better; it rains some, etc. Some … some, one part … another part; these … those; — used distributively. “Some to the shores do fly,
Some to the woods, or whither fear advised.” Daniel. Formerly used also of single persons or things: this one … that one; one … another. “Some in his bed, some in the deep sea.” Chaucer.