1. A collection of diverse items: This is the most common meaning. It can refer to a collection of anything, from objects to writings to ideas. For example:
* "The attic was filled with a miscellany of old furniture and toys."
* "The magazine featured a miscellany of articles on art, music, and literature."
2. A literary work containing diverse content: This refers to a book or collection of writings that are not unified by a single theme. Often, they are essays, poems, stories, or other pieces on a variety of topics. Examples include:
* *The Oxford Book of English Verse* - a collection of poems from various authors and eras.
* *The Norton Anthology of American Literature* - a collection of writings from American authors across genres and time periods.
3. A miscellaneous collection of items or information: This refers to anything that doesn't belong to a specific category or theme. For example:
* "The store's basement was a miscellany of old tools, broken furniture, and forgotten trinkets."
* "The meeting agenda included a miscellany of topics, from budget updates to employee morale."
In essence, "miscellany" describes anything that is a hodgepodge, a grab bag, or a mix-and-match collection.