Miscellaneous, a.
Etymology: [L. miscellaneus mixed, miscellaneous, fr. miscellus mixed, fr. miscere to mix. See Mix, and cf. Miscellany.]
Mixed; mingled; consisting of several things; of diverse sorts; promiscuous; heterogeneous; as, a miscellaneous collection. "A miscellaneous rabble." Milton. -- Mis`cel*la"ne*ous*ly, adv. -- Mis`cel*la"ne*ous*ness, n.
Shades of meaning
Fernald has no entry of its own for miscellaneous; he lists it under heterogeneous.
Where he writes about it:
A miscellaneous mixture may or may not be heterogeneous; if the objects are alike in kind, but different in size, form, quality, use, etc., and without special order or relation, the collection is miscellaneous; if the objects differ in kind, such a mixture is also, and more strictly, heterogeneous; a pile of unassorted lumber is miscellaneous; the contents of a school-boy's pocket are commonly miscellaneous and might usually be termed heterogeneous as well. — from heterogeneous