fragmentaryadj.
/ˈfraɡm(ə)ntri/, /fraɡˈmɛntəri/, U.S. /ˈfræɡmənˌtɛri/ a. Of the nature of, or composed of, fragments; not complete or entire; disconnected or disjointed.
ΘΚΠ
the world > relative properties > wholeness > incompleteness > [adjective]
halfa1300
brokec1380
incompletec1380
imperfecta1398
infecta1398
unperfecta1398
uncompletec1430
unfullc1450
partile1576
unentire?1605
half-faced1607
fragmentary1612
broken1634
partiary1654
fractional1675
fractionarya1690
half-way1694
fragmentala1763
half-and-half1796
fragmentitious1827
incompleted1836
sectional1848
mincemeaty1870
1612 J. Donne Second Anniuersarie 8 in First Anniuersarie What fragmentary rubbidge this world is.
1621 J. Donne Lett. (1651) 158 With those fragmentary recreations I must make shift.
1835 R. Browning Paracelsus ii. 43 A few Discoveries, as appended here and there, The fragmentary produce of those toils.
1844 C. Thirlwall Hist. Greece VIII. lxiv. 275 We have but scanty and fragmentary notices of his operations.
1856 E. K. Kane Arctic Explor. I. xx. 248 Becoming embarrassed in fragmentary ice.
1875 B. Jowett in tr. Plato Dialogues (ed. 2) III. 527 His knowledge is fragmentary and unconnected.
b. spec. in Geology. Composed of fragments of previously-existing rocks, etc.
ΘΚΠ
the world > the earth > structure of the earth > constituent materials > rock > composite rock > [adjective] > fragmentary
fragmentary1832
pyroclastic1862
clastic1877
fragmental1882
cataclastic1887
autoclastic1891
siliciclastic1961
volcaniclastic1961
1832 W. Macgillivray Trav. & Researches A. von Humboldt xxi. 305 The rocks were found to be fragmentary, consisting of pieces of coral, cemented by carbonate of lime, and interspersed with quartzy sand.
Derivatives
ˈfragmentarily adv.
ΘΚΠ
the world > relative properties > wholeness > incompleteness > [adverb]
halfling?c1200
a-party1340
uncompletelyc1380
imperfectlyc1400
parcel1415
party1440
unfullyc1449
parcel-likea1475
partiallya1475
halflyc1480
a part1481
parta1500
parcelly gilt1509
diminutely1521
partly1523
partlings1564
portionally1617
incompletely1651
informedly1670
fragmentally1814
fragmentarily1856
part-way1954
1856 R. W. Emerson Eng. Traits xii. 212 Pamphleteer or journalist..must read meanly and fragmentarily.
1871 Daily News 18 Sept. Where an enterprising enemy might have cut them off fragmentarily.
ˈfragmentariness n.
ΘΚΠ
the world > relative properties > wholeness > incompleteness > [noun]
halfness1530
incompleteness1644
partialness1701
partiality1822
fragmentariness1836
partness1925
1836 J. Sterling Let. in Ess. & Tales (1848) I. p. lxxxvii I have always had..a sense of fragmentariness from not having been there.
1860 B. F. Westcott Introd. Study Gospels (ed. 5) vi. 329 The various narratives of the Resurrection place the fragmentariness of the Gospel [of St. Luke] in the clearest light.
This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1897; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
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adj.1612