Medley

Pronunciation

• UK IPA: /ˈmÉ›dli/

Origin

From Middle English medle, from Anglo-Norman medlee, Old French medlee, from Late Latin misculata, feminine past participle of misculare ("to mix"). Compare meddle, also melee.

Full definition of medley

Noun

1. (now rare, archaic) Combat, fighting; a battle. from 14th c.
• 1485, Thomas Malory, Le Morte Darthur, Book X:Than cam the Kynge of Irelonde and the Kynge of the Streyte Marchis to rescowe Sir Trystram and Sir Palomydes; and there began a grete medlé, and many knyghtys were smyttyn downe on bothe partyes.
2. A collection or mixture of miscellaneous things. from 17th c.a fruit medley
• Addisonthis medley of philosophy and war
• W. WalshLove is a medley of endearments, jars,
  Suspicions, reconcilements, wars.
3. (music) A collection of related songs played or mixed together as a single piece. from 17th c.They played a medley of favorite folk songs as an encore.
4. (swimming) A competitive swimming event that combines the four strokes of butterfly, backstroke, breaststroke, and freestyle. from 20th c.
5. A cloth of mixed colours.

Related terms

• meddle
• melee

Synonyms

• mashup

Verb

1. (music) To combine, to form a medley.

Anagrams

• yelmed