disjecta membra

American  

[dis-jek-tuh mem-bruh] / dɪsˈdʒɛk tə ˈmɛm brə /

plural noun

1. scattered members; disjointed portions or parts: applied to fragments of poetry or fragmentary quotations.

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disjecta membra British  

/ dɪsˈdʒɛktə ˈmɛmbrə /

plural noun

1. scattered fragments, esp parts taken from a writing or writings

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Etymology

Origin of disjecta membra

< Latin, alteration of disjectī membra poētae limbs of a dismembered poet, a phrase in Horace

Example Sentences

"Professor Winterthorn's Journey" is full of the disjecta membra of idle small talk, and in the following sequence, "The Suit of Mistress Quickly", Reid has written what is almost a piece of sound poetry.

From The Guardian • Sep. 28, 2012

It is high time this pseudo poetry of disjecta membra was put in its place, as you have done in the fine peroration of the article's last two paragraphs.

From Time Magazine Archive

We are but the disjecta membra of a most remarkable pair of parents.

From Home Life of Great Authors by Griswold, Hattie Tyng

Why all these disjecta membra of a sketch-book?

From Chopin : the Man and His Music by Huneker, James

All this ought certainly to unmake the author in question, and strew his disjecta membra wide over the realm of oblivion.

From The Man of Letters as a Man of Business by Howells, William Dean