A mixture or blend of different things into one whole. In science, it can mean a mixture of mercury with another metal.
From Medieval Latin *amalgama*, a term in alchemy for an alloy of mercury, perhaps from Greek roots meaning “soft” or “knead together.” It moved from a technical chemical word to a general word for any blend or combination.
Dentists used to fill cavities with an “amalgam” that literally contained mercury mixed with other metals. Now we use the word metaphorically for mixed cultures, styles, or ideas. It’s a reminder that our mental blends are named after very physical, shiny, and sometimes toxic mixtures.
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