aggregate

What it means

1. countableuncountableA mass, assemblage, or sum of particulars; something consisting of elements but considered as a whole.

   1 more example

   If the nebulosity were due to an aggregate of stars so far off as to be separately indistinguishable, then the central body would have to be a star of almost incomparably greater dimensions than an ordinary star; if, on the other hand, the central body were of dimensions comparable with those of an ordinary star, the nebulosity must be due to something other than a star cluster.

   1898, Arthur Berry, chapter 12, in A Short History of Astronomy, Herschel

   Synonyms: cluster

2. countableuncountableA mass formed by the union of homogeneous particles; – in distinction from a compound, formed by the union of heterogeneous particles.

   1 more example

   1847, William Black, A Practical Treatise on Brewing : Calculating Lengths and Gravities This in the second boiling will be replaced by nearly an equal quantity of worts, of the same gravity as turned out of the copper, which, in making the calculation, is to be deducted from the aggregate of the second worts, and so on with a third wort if necessary.

3. countableobsoleteuncountablemathematicsA set (collection of objects).

In a sentence

If the nebulosity were due to an aggregate of stars so far off as to be separately indistinguishable, then the central body would have to be a star of almost incomparably greater dimensions than an ordinary star; if, on the other hand, the central body were of dimensions comparable with those of an ordinary star, the nebulosity must be due to something other than a star cluster.

1898, Arthur Berry, chapter 12, in A Short History of Astronomy, Herschel

Where it comes from

1. New Latinaggregātum“an aggregate”
2. Middle Englishaggregat(e)“a sum, unit, complex, aggregate”
3. Englishaggregate

From Middle English aggregat(e) (“a sum, unit, complex, aggregate”), borrowed from New Latin aggregātum (“an aggregate”), substantivized from the nominative neuter singular of aggregātus, the perfect passive participle of aggregō (“to flock together”), from ad- (“at, to, toward”)) + gregō (“to flock or group”), from grex (“flock”, greg- in compounds) + -ō (verb-forming suffix). See also egregious and gregarious. See also ag-.