Remarkable

Part of speech: adjective

Pronunciation: /ɹɪˈmɑː.kə.bl̩/

Definitions

1. Worthy of attention or notice because of being unusual, extraordinary, or impressive in some way
2. Deserving of being noticed due to its impressive, extraordinary, or unusual qualities
3. Noteworthy for its extraordinary, impressive, or distinctive nature that captures attention

Etymology: "Remarkable" is built from "remark" and the suffix "-able", meaning "capable of being" something. Its immediate source is the French "remarquable", and the English form that has come down to us is essentially a translation of that French word. The notable part of the story is the verb underneath it: "remark" originally meant to mark something out or make it visible, from the Old French "remarquer", a compound of "re-" and "marquer" ("to mark"). A remarkable thing was therefore one that was marked out from its surroundings, worth singling out for notice. That sense of standing out is what the modern meaning preserves. "Remark" drifted over time from the idea of marking something to the idea of pointing it out in speech, and so a remark became a spoken observation. "Remarkable" followed the older, visual sense, describing whatever stands apart enough to catch the eye or merit comment, which is why its modern meaning of extraordinary or impressive sits so comfortably with the original idea of being noticeable.

Synonyms: extraordinary, notable, unusual, significant, impressive

Antonyms: ordinary, unremarkable, insignificant, common, mundane