omnium-gatherum

American  

[om-nee-uhm-gath-er-uhm] / ˌɒm ni əmˈgæð ər əm /

noun

plural

omnium-gatherums

1. a miscellaneous collection.

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omnium-gatherum British  

/ ˈɒmnɪəmˈɡæðərəm /

noun

1. facetious a miscellaneous collection; assortment

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Etymology

Origin of omnium-gatherum

First recorded in 1520–30; from Latin omnium “of all” (genitive plural of omnis ) + pseudo-Latin gatherum “a gathering” (from English gather + -um Latin noun suffix), replacing Middle English omnegadrium (from omni- + Middle English gaderen gather ( def. ) ) + -ium noun suffix

Example Sentences

But maybe something about hustle, from its 1972 origins in the resilient youth of the battered South Bronx to the omnium-gatherum dance floors of 2023, deserves the title.

From Seattle Times • Jan. 27, 2023

Volume VI, an index and omnium-gatherum, was prefaced by Mr. Stokes’s apology to subscribers for the 13-year duration of the project.

From New York Times • Oct. 28, 2015

But isn’t a handbag sometimes just a handbag, rather than an omnium-gatherum?

From Slate • Sep. 11, 2014

His multilayered sound collage is an omnium-gatherum that includes — among much else — running water, traffic, babies crying and a variety of Irish traditional music.

From New York Times • Dec. 8, 2011

On the other hand, Adolphine's house, in spite of all her wishes and endeavours, had never been anything more than an omnium-gatherum, a rubbish heap.

From Small Souls by Couperus, Louis