a. [f. FRAGMENT + -AL.] = FRAGMENTARY. spec. in Geol. (see quot. 1882).
1837. Whewell, Hist. Induct. Sc. (1857), I. 218. His disciple Porphyry collected from his lips, or from fragmental notes, the six Enneads of his doctrines.
1845. D. M. Moir, A Reminiscence of Boyhood, in Blackw. Mag., LVIII. Oct., 410.
| When the past | |
| Spontaneously unfolds the treasuries | |
| Of half-forgotten and fragmental things, | |
| To memory’s ceaseless roamings |
1882. Geikie, Text-bk. Geol. (1885), 116. The Clastic or Fragmental rocks are formed either of the débris of older rocks, or of the aggregated remains of plants or animals.
Hence Fragmentally adv.
1814. Lamb, Lett. to Coleridge, 26 Aug. Inquire in seven years’ time for the ‘Rokebys’ and the ‘Laras,’ and where shall they be found?—fluttering fragmentally in some thread-paper.
1848. Blackw. Mag., LXIV. Nov., 540/2. I should be sorry to see my ancient preceptor fragmentally distributed as an offering to the goddess of discord.
