OE


An alloy is a metal created by combining two or more pure metallic elements. Elements, by definition, are pure. The metal is not alloyed, or combined with other metals or other elements. Elements are, therefore, unalloyed. Something that is adulterated is impure. As noted, an element is pure in that it is made of a single component and is not alloyed or combined with other components. Veritable is similar to literal and is used to indicate that something named is true, realistic, and not imaginary. Multifarious describes something that occurs with great variety. A multifarious grouping of elements would include thot with few, if any, common characteristics. In another context, a multifarious library might include books on tax law, religious tomes from different sources, and children's rhyming books about bears. Something that is homogenous is made up of many components that share some similarity. A homogenous library might contain mystery novels by different authors. Conglomerate describes a mass made of different, varied sources which remain whole, rather than blend together.