miscellaneous

[mis-uh-ley-nee-uhs]

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adjective

consisting of members or elements of different kinds; of mixed character: a book of miscellaneous essays on American history.
having various qualities, aspects, or subjects: a miscellaneous discussion.

Origin of miscellaneous

1630–40; < Latin miscellāneus mixed, of all sorts, equivalent to miscell(us) mixed + -ān(us) -an + -eus -eous

Related formsmis·cel·la·ne·ous·ly, adverbmis·cel·la·ne·ous·ness, noun

Synonyms for miscellaneous

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1. divers, varied, heterogeneous, diversified. Miscellaneous, indiscriminate, promiscuous refer to mixture and lack of order, and may imply lack of discernment or taste. Miscellaneous emphasizes the idea of the mixture of things of different kinds or natures: a miscellaneous assortment of furniture. Indiscriminate emphasizes lack of discrimination in choice (and consequent confusion): indiscriminate praise. Promiscuous is even stronger than indiscriminate in its emphasis of complete absence of discrimination: promiscuous in his friendships.

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018

Related Words for miscellaneous

sundry, assorted, confused, conglomerate, different, disordered, disparate, divergent, diverse, heterogeneous, indiscriminate, jumbled, many, mixed, motley, muddled, multifarious, odd, promiscuous, scattered

Examples from the Web for miscellaneous

Contemporary Examples of miscellaneous

Some say “miscellaneous China 2003” and others “miscellaneous conferences.”
Amy Tan: How I Write
Noah Charney
December 11, 2013
The park was also filled with its usual assortment of tourists, street preachers and miscellaneous weirdos.
D.C. Protesters Battle Over Obama’s Syria Response
Ben Jacobs
August 31, 2013
The two walked in together with a gaggle of security and miscellaneous entourage.
Staking Out Kissinger’s 90th-Birthday Party
Nina Strochlic
June 4, 2013

Historical Examples of miscellaneous

Above these were eight levels of Food, Clothing and Miscellaneous industries.
City of Endless Night
Milo Hastings
But these miscellaneous and figurative forces are not what we are considering.
Life: Its True Genesis
R. W. Wright
Keep the room clean and free of miscellaneous tools and rubbish.
The Automobile Storage Battery
O. A. Witte
They are uncouth figures, with vague legends and miscellaneous attributes.
History of Religion
Allan Menzies
Oh man, man, what an eye for miscellaneous beauty is that with which your sex is gifted!
Shoulder-Straps
Henry Morford

British Dictionary definitions for miscellaneous

miscellaneous

adjective

composed of or containing a variety of things; mixed; varied
having varied capabilities, sides, etc

Derived Formsmiscellaneously, adverbmiscellaneousness, noun

Word Origin for miscellaneous

C17: from Latin miscellāneus, from miscellus mixed, from miscēre to mix

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Word Origin and History for miscellaneous

adj.

1630s, from Latin miscellaneus "mixed, miscellaneous," from miscellus "mixed," from miscere "to mix" (see mix (v.)). Related: Miscellaneously.