fragmentary
UK: /ˈfræɡ.mən.tər.i/ | US: /ˈfræɡ.mən.ter.i/
adj. consisting of small, disconnected or incomplete parts
adj. lacking coherence or continuity; disjointed
fragmentary = fragment<piece> + ary<adjective suffix>
- fragment: From Latin fragmentum ("a piece broken off"), derived from frangere ("to break"). Retains the core meaning of a broken or detached part.
- ary: A suffix forming adjectives, often indicating "related to" or "characterized by" (e.g., momentary, voluntary).
Etymology Origin:
The word fragmentary emerged in the early 17th century, combining fragment (rooted in the Latin concept of breaking) with -ary to describe something composed of broken or scattered pieces. The logical progression reflects how physical fragmentation (e.g., shattered objects) extended metaphorically to describe incomplete ideas or data.
The archaeologist found only fragmentary remains of the ancient pottery.
His knowledge of the subject was fragmentary at best.
The report provided a fragmentary account of the incident.
Fragmentary evidence made the investigation challenging.
The manuscript survived in a fragmentary state, with many pages missing.