Excentric

Part of speech: adjective

Pronunciation: /ɛkˈsɛn.tɹɪk/

Definitions

1. A deviation from a central point or norm signifies a quality of being unconventional or atypical in behavior, showcasing an outward orientation instead of traditional adherence
2. Demonstrating behavior that heavily deviates from typical social norms ; describing something positioned away from a center or axis
3. Exhibiting unusual or odd actions or characteristics that differ from the standard ; relating to being displaced from the central point

Etymology: "Excentric" is an older spelling of "eccentric," built from the Latin prefix "ex-" meaning "out of" or "away from" and "centric," from the Greek "kentron," meaning "centre." Together the parts describe something that has moved out of the centre, which is the literal sense the word carried for centuries before it described people. Its literal, geometric sense came first. A circle whose centre sits off to one side of another circle's centre is eccentric, and astronomers used the term for orbits that are not perfectly circular, with planets and the sun not sharing a common centre. The move to human behaviour followed the same logic: a person who strays from the usual norms has stepped away from the accepted middle. The spelling "excentric" is the form given in this entry, and it reflects the Latin-based construction more directly than the modern "eccentric" does.

Synonyms: eccentric, unconventional

Antonyms: conventional, normal