noun

assemblage

uh-SEM-blij/əˈsemblɪdʒ/

A collection of separate things brought together.

The tray holds an assemblage of shells, stones, driftwood, and other found objects.

A shallow open tray holds an assemblage of assorted found objects: shells, smooth stones, a pinecone, a feather, and a piece of driftwood.

Etymology

asLatinto, toward

+semblLatinto make like

+ageFrenchaction or result

The Latin base meant “make like” before developing the sense “gather together.” Assemblage names the resulting collection, originally described as a collection of individuals and now also applied to things.

In context

Inside Archaeology13:07

This is not helped by the fact that we don't know exactly how the jar came to be in the museum's collection. It is most likely part of a Romano-British assemblage

6 Ancient Artefacts That #Archaeology Can't Explain

More examples

An odd assemblage of objects filled the cabinet.
The excavation revealed an assemblage of tools and cooking vessels.
Several assemblages stood on platforms around the gallery.

Forms

assemblage · assemblages

Similar words

collection: Items gathered together without necessarily forming one constructed work.
collage: Usually combines attached materials on a flat surface.