fragmentary
pronunciation
How to pronounce fragmentary in British English: UK [ˈfræɡməntri]
How to pronounce fragmentary in American English: US [ˈfræɡmənteri]
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- Adjective:
- consisting of small disconnected parts
Word Origin
- fragmentary (adj.)
- 1610s, but mainly a dictionary word until early 19c., from fragment (n.) + -ary. Fragmental was used from 1798.
Example
- 1. The affection she actually received was fragmentary .
- 2. My first memories are fragmentary and isolated and contemporaneous , as though one remembered vaguely some early day of the seven days .
- 3. Nolan chose to break up scenes with fragmentary flashes of the crime and of clues-painted nails , a necklace .
- 4. While much attention has been focused on the crisis at the fukushima daiichi nuclear plant , only fragmentary information has become available about damage to other large complexes , like water distribution and sewage treatment plants .
- 5. As described by central intelligence agency chief leon panetta , the intelligence operation that found bin laden involved cia agents , national security agency satellites , and defense department special ops forces , all working together over a period of years to patiently assemble fragmentary information .