Miscellanies

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. A collection of various items or works, often differing in type or subject matter
2. A series of diverse pieces or articles that do not follow a strict thematic unity
3. An assortment of different kinds of written works, typically compiled into a single volume or collection

Etymology: "Miscellanies" is the plural of "miscellany," which English borrowed from French "miscellanées," itself taken from the Latin "mīscellānea," meaning "mixed things." The Latin adjective "miscellus" ("mixed") comes from "misceō," "to mix," so the word's core idea is simply a mixture. The sense of a varied collection, with items of different kinds sitting together, follows directly from that original image of stirring things into one vessel.

Synonyms: varieties, assortments, collections