amalgam
UK[əˈmælɡəm]US[əˈmælɡəm]
n
a mixture or blend of different elements.
n
an alloy of mercury with another metal, used especially in dentistry.
Etymology
the word 'amalgam' entered english in the late 15th century from medieval latin 'amalgama', which referred to a soft mass, particularly an alloy of mercury. this latin term was itself borrowed from the arabic 'al-malgham', meaning 'the emollient poultice' or 'the soft mass', derived from the greek 'malagma' (an emollient), from 'malassein' (to soften). the semantic journey from a physical softening agent to a metaphorical blend of elements reflects the malleable, blending property central to its original use in alchemy and metallurgy.
Analysis
the word is a simplex loanword from medieval latin. it is not productively formed from separable english morphemes.
Examples
the band's music is an interesting amalgam of jazz and electronic sounds.
silver amalgam is commonly used for filling cavities in teeth.
the culture of the region is an amalgam of indigenous and colonial influences.