miscellaneum
English
Etymology
Perhaps by back-formation from miscellanea, in accordance with the -um → -a rule of plural formation of neuter nouns in the nominative case from the Latin second declension.
Pronunciation
- (Received Pronunciation) IPA(key): /ˌmɪsəˈleɪnɪəm/
Noun
miscellaneum (plural miscellanea)
- (rare, chiefly archaic) A miscellany.
- 1652: Samuel Hartlib, Cornu Copia : A Miscellaneum of lucriferous and most fructiferous Experiments, Observations, and Discoveries, immethodically distributed ; to be really demonstrated and communicated in all Sincerity., book title (Harleian Miscellany, volume VI, pages 27–36)
- Cornu Copia : A Miscellaneum of lucriferous and most fructiferous Experiments, Observations, and Discoveries, immethodically distributed ; to be really demonstrated and communicated in all Sincerity.
- 1851, The Musical World[1], page 129:
- The second part was devoted to a miscellaneum. It commenced with a reference to the interdiction of stage entertainment in the time of the Protectorate.
- 1999: Housman Society, Housman Society Journal, page 87 (Turner & Devereux)
- Aside from those cited in this miscellaneum, other copies are to be seen at Bryn Mawr (inscribed by Kennerley to R. W. Ellis); Southern Illinois University, Carbondale; and private collection 1.
- 1652: Samuel Hartlib, Cornu Copia : A Miscellaneum of lucriferous and most fructiferous Experiments, Observations, and Discoveries, immethodically distributed ; to be really demonstrated and communicated in all Sincerity., book title (Harleian Miscellany, volume VI, pages 27–36)
Usage notes
- Miscellanea is almost universally treated as a plurale tantum in English, consequently, the singular form miscellaneum is liable to cause confusion:
- As miscellanea means, in the usual sense, “a miscellaneous collection of different things”, a single miscellaneum is logically impossible because variety and diversity (in their usual senses) are attributes of groups of things, not of individual things; for example, a populace can be varied and diverse, but a person cannot be various or diverse.
- Miscellanea will usually be taken to mean “a single miscellany”, not several assortments.
Latin
Pronunciation
- (Classical Latin) IPA(key): [mɪs.kɛlˈlaː.ne.ũː]
- (modern Italianate Ecclesiastical) IPA(key): [miʃ.ʃelˈlaː.ne.um]
Adjective
miscellāneum
- inflection of miscellāneus:
- accusative masculine singular
- nominative/accusative/vocative neuter singular