Unusuals

Part of speech: noun, adjective

Definitions

1. Referring to items or occurrences that are rare or uncommon; describing things that deviate notably from the ordinary or expected; denoting individuals or objects that exhibit atypical or distinctive characteristics
2. Characterizing events, objects, or people that stand out due to their rarity or peculiarity; indicating something that is not typical or standard within a given context; relating to phenomena that are distinct in their uncommonness
3. Pertaining to elements that are remarkable for their infrequency or oddity; signifying aspects that differ markedly from the normal or conventional; describing entities that possess uncommon or distinctive traits

Etymology: "Unusuals" is the plural of "unusual" used as a noun, meaning strange or rare occurrences. The adjective "unusual" is formed from the prefix "un-", meaning "not", attached to "usual," which comes from Latin "usualis," from "usus," meaning "use" or "custom." So an unusual thing is literally one that falls outside ordinary use or custom. The prefix "un-" is an old Germanic element, inherited into Old English and used to negate adjectives freely, as in "unkind" or "unfair." That makes "unusual" a hybrid: a Germanic negating prefix fixed onto a Latin-derived base. Speakers combine these pieces without thinking about it, which is why the word feels entirely native. Used as a noun, "unusuals" is a fairly rare plural, typically referring to odd or uncommon events and cases. The plural form is what turns the adjective into a countable thing: a collection of oddities.

Synonyms: rarities, oddities, anomalies, exceptions, curiosities

Antonyms: usuals, normals, commonplaces, regulars, typicals