Outre

Part of speech: adjective

Definitions

1. Marked by peculiar and avant-garde elements that defy conventional expectations
2. Displaying an unusual and eccentric nature that is strikingly distinctive
3. Characterized by being highly unusual or bizarre beyond the norm

Etymology: French "outré" comes from the verb "outrer," meaning "to go to excess," and the adjective's core sense is still "beyond the limit." The French verb is built on "outre," a preposition meaning "beyond" or "past," which descends from Latin "ultra," also meaning "beyond." English borrowed the word in its French form, and its earliest English use is tied to fashion and taste: something outré is so far beyond conventional style that it startles or shocks rather than merely looking unusual. The spelling "outre" appears in English as a simplified version of the French accent-marked form, which is why you will see both. The accent is a cue from French, not a separate word, so the two spellings share one history.

Synonyms: exotic, unconventional

Antonyms: conventional, normal