adj.
- Made up of a variety of parts or ingredients.
- Having a variety of characteristics, abilities, or appearances.
- Concerned with diverse subjects or aspects.
[From Latin miscellāneus, from miscellus, mixed, from miscēre, to mix.]
miscellaneously mis'cel·la'ne·ous·ly adv.miscellaneousness mis'cel·la'ne·ous·ness n.
SYNONYMS miscellaneous, heterogeneous, mixed, varied, assorted. These adjectives mean consisting of a number of different kinds. Miscellaneous implies a varied, often haphazard combination: is selling postcards and miscellaneous novelties. Heterogeneous emphasizes diversity and dissimilarity: a heterogeneous urban population. Mixed suggests a combination of differing but not necessarily conflicting elements: a mixed program of baroque and contemporary music. Varied stresses absence of uniformity: "The assembly was large and varied, containing clergy and laity, men and women" (Nicholas P.S. Wisemen). Assorted often suggests the purposeful arrangement of different but complementary elements: a pretty arrangement of assorted flowers.
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition Copyright © 2007, 2000 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Updated in 2009. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
