congeries, spur-of-the moment, Briefing Room

The Portable Nabokov (originally published as Nabokov's Congeries) Selected with the author's collaboration and with a critical introduction ...

Drew Angerer/The New York Times
Clinton Holds Court in Briefing Room

By MICHAEL D. SHEAR 23 minutes ago

Former President Bill Clinton held a remarkable, spur-of-the-moment news conference to announce his backing for the tax compromise President Obama reached this week.

spur-of-the moment
(spûr'əv-THə-mō'mənt)
adj.
Occurring or made hastily on impulse: a spur-of-the moment choice.


congeries

(kən-jîr'ēz', kŏn'jə-rēz')
n. (used with a sing. verb)
A collection; an aggregation: "Our city, it should be explained, is two cities, or more-an urban mass or congeries divided by the river" (John Updike).

[Latin congeriēs, from congerere, to heap up. See congest.]