medley

[med-lee]

noun

plural

medleys 

1. a mixture, especially of heterogeneous elements; hodgepodge; jumble.

2. a piece of music combining tunes or passages from various sources.

   a medley of hit songs from Broadway shows.

adjective

1. Archaic.,  mixed; mingled.

medley

/ ˈmɛdlɪ /

noun

1. a mixture of various types or elements

2. a musical composition consisting of various tunes arranged as a continuous whole

3. Also called: medley relay. 

   1. swimming a race in which a different stroke is used for each length

   2. athletics a relay race in which each leg has a different distance

4. an archaic word for melee

adjective

1. of, being, or relating to a mixture or variety

Word History and Origins

Origin of medley¹

First recorded in 1300–50; Middle English noun and adjective medle(e), medlei(e), maedlai(e) “battle, war, quarrel; mixture, balanced mixture,” from Anglo-French, Old French medlee, mellee, noun and adjective use of feminine of past participle of medler “to mix, fight”; meddle

Word History and Origins

Origin of medley¹

C14: from Old French medlee, from medler to mix, quarrel

Example Sentences

They are "four very different artists offering an intriguing snapshot of contemporary art", the Times' art critic Nancy Durrant wrote, while the Telegraph's Alastair Sooke said they show "a bewildering medley of materials and approaches".

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In September of that year, Wonder appeared on “Soul Train” and spoke tenderly about the singer before performing a medley of “Lovin’ You” and “Perfect Angel’s” title track, which he wrote.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

But instead of getting to sing their songs individually, the three were grouped into what was billed as a “Lilith Fair Tribute” and had to perform a medley.

Read more on Salon

It featured a medley of hits, including “Crazy Train,” “Changes” and “Mama, I’m Coming Home.”

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Sunday’s tribute was a medley of the hits “Crazy Train,” “Changes” and “Mama, I’m Coming Home”and began with Yungblud energizing the crowd with his take on the first song.

Read more on Los Angeles Times