The word eccentric can be used in different ways, so this article will teach you all there is to know about the word eccentric and its usage.
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Kevin
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February 10, 2022
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What Does the Word Eccentric Mean?
The word eccentric is a word with many possible meanings. It can be used as an adjective or a noun. The word eccentric is three syllables – ec-cen-tric and the pronunciation of eccentric is ɪksentrɪk.
As an adjective, the word eccentric can be used to describe a person or thing that has strange behavior, as well as beliefs, opinions, or habits that are outside of the established norm. The word eccentric can also be used as a noun to describe these types of people. A person of a specified kind who is eccentric may have an odd personality, eccentric conduct, unconventional behavior, or a freakish combination of styles.
The word eccentric can also be used in science to mean not having a common center, something that deviates away from a center or axis, or not completely circular, disk-shaped, or sphere-shaped. As a noun, it refers to a device that converts rotary motion into reciprocating motion. For example, if a planet has an eccentric orbit, its planetary orbit is not completely circular and might have an elliptic orbit.
Finally, in physiology, the word eccentric can mean in the opposite direction of contraction of a muscle, such as the bending of the elbow joint for the flexion of the lower arm. If this occurs via an external force while a person is constricting elbow extensor muscles like the triceps, this is considered eccentric movement or eccentric motion. Other examples include the opening of the jaw with the masseter.
What Are Translations of the Word Eccentric?
People all over the world need words that describe how something can be outside of the norm. Therefore, many different languages contain translations for the word eccentric. With this list of translations of the word eccentric, you can begin learning how to say the word eccentric to people all around the globe.
- Swedish: avvikande
- Lojban: cizra, jikcizra
- Russian: эксцентри́чный
- Italian: eccentrico (masc.)
- Portuguese: excêntrico (masc.), excêntrica (fem.), excêntricos (masc. pl.), excêntricas (fem. pl.)
- Maori: korokē, hārakiraki
- Spanish: excéntrico
- Dutch: excentriek, buitenissig, afwijkend
- French: excentrique
- Catalan: excèntric
- Czech: výstřední (masc.)
- Polish: ekscentryczny (masc.), ekscentryczna (fem.), ekscentryczni (masc. pl.), ekscentryczne (fem. pl.)
- Cyrillic: ексцентричан, неуравнотежен
- Mandarin: 古怪 (gǔguài)
- German: exzentrisch, schrullig
- Roman: ekscentričan, neuravnotežen
- Finnish: eksentrinen, omalaatuinen
- Bulgarian: ексцентричен, чудат
What Is the Etymology of the Word Eccentric?
According to Dictionary, the word eccentric has been used since the Middle English eccentrik. This word comes from the Medieval Latin eccentricus. This word originates from the Greek ekkentros or κέντρον, from the prefix ek/ἐκ and the Greek kentron. These words originated as kentein and kent in Indo-European roots.
How Can the Word Eccentric Be Used in a Sentence?
Since the word eccentric can be used in multiple different ways, it is important to study all of the ways in which it can be used in a sentence. To get a sense of the usage of the word eccentric, take a look at the below example sentences. Study them, and then try using this word of the day in a sentence of your own as practice.
The eccentric spelling of her name caused her many problems – Bunnie couldn’t simply say, “like the rabbit” — it always required a further explanation. Facebook even misspelled her anime and she had to change it.
The friendly eccentric enjoyed the restaurants of bizarre design; one looks like a steam engine will wall antics filled with gears.
The eccentric rod and eccentric strap did not track a circular axis of revolution; rather, the revolving shaft behaved with non-rectilinear motion.
The local eccentric was a customer character in her plays; in the latest, the character Axle was so proud of his American Heritage that he studied American history day in and day out.
The circular orbit of a planet was standard in the galaxy, so seeing orbits shaped like ellipses was odd indeed.
What Are Synonyms of the Word Eccentric?
The word eccentric is fairly specific, and sometimes people are looking for words that are slightly different from the word eccentric. Sometimes people have overused the word eccentric and are looking for a new word to take its place. In this case, using a synonym is extremely helpful. You can start learning synonyms of the word eccentric with this list.
- aberrant
- abnormal
- anomalous
- bizarre
- character
- crank
- curious
- extraordinary
- freak
- freakish
- freaky
- idiosyncratic
- irregular
- kinky
- maverick
- misfit
- nonconformist
- odd
- oddball
- oddity
- offbeat
- outlandish
- peculiar
- quaint
- queer
- quirky
- screwball
- singular
- strange
- unconventional
- unorthodox
- unusual
- weird
- weirdo
What Are Antonyms of the Word Eccentric?
There are plenty of words that have the opposite meaning of the word eccentric, as well. These words are known as antonyms, or sometimes simply called opposite words. With this list from Power Thesaurus, you can start describing people and things that are the opposite of eccentric.
- boring
- characteristic
- charming
- co-operative
- coaxal
- coaxial
- common
- commonness
- commonplace
- concentric
- confidence
- conformist
- conventional
- convivial person
- customary
- done to death
- dull
- everyday
- fairly common
- familiar
- generally accepted
- glory hound
- good fortune
- habitual
- homocentric
- in order
- mainstream
- many people
Overall, the word eccentric can mean behaving oddly or altogether strange, or it can refer to something that does not flow in a true circular motion along the line of a circle or appointed sphere. This word can be used as either a noun or an adjective.
Sources:
- Eccentric synonyms – 1 549 Words and Phrases for Eccentric | Power Thesaurus
- Eccentric antonyms – 212 Opposites of Eccentric | Power Thesaurus
- eccentric: meaning, origin, translation | WordSense Dictionary
- Eccentric definition and meaning | Collins English Dictionary
- Eccentric Definition & Meaning | Dictionary.com
- Eccentric | Your Dictionary
