eccentric

Reading level: hard

Estimated CEFR level: C1 — Advanced

Estimated from word frequency; not an official CEFR classification.

Definition

  1. noun a person with an unusual or odd personality
  2. noun a person of a specified kind (usually with many eccentricities)
  3. adjective conspicuously or grossly unconventional or unusual

Etymology

From Middle French excentrique, from Medieval Latin eccentricus, from Ancient Greek ἔκκεντρος (ékkentros, “not having the earth as the center of an orbit”), from ἐκ (ek, “out”) + κέντρον (kéntron, “point”). Equivalent to ex- + -centric.

In classic literature

Synonyms

eccentric person, flake, oddball, geek

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