weird en · ADJ
Pronunciation
- (Southern-England) audio
- /ˈwɪə(ɹ)d/ (UK)
- (Australia) audio
- /ˈwiɚd/ (US)
- /ˈwɪɚd/ (US)
- (UK) audio
- /ˈwiːə(ɹ)d/ (UK)
- (US) audio
Etymology
From Middle English werde, wierde, wirde, wyrede, wurde, from Old English wyrd (“fate”), from Proto-West Germanic *wurdi, from Proto-Germanic *wurdiz, from Proto-Indo-European *wert- (“to turn, wind”). Cognate with Icelandic urður (“fate”). Related to Old English weorþan (“to become”); more at worth (verb). Doublet of wyrd, a reborrowing of the original sense and spelling. Obsolete by the 16th century in English, it was reintroduced by Shakespeare, who borrowed Middle Scots weird as weyward in the name of the Weyward Sisters (later respelt as Weird Sisters), meaning “Sisters of Fate”. The senses “abnormal”, “strange” etc., arising from a reinterpretatation of the Sisters' naming, are posterior to his borrowing.
Meanings
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Having an unusually strange character or behaviour.
There are lots of weird people in this place.
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Deviating from the normal; bizarre.
The best recent VC discs start from the relentlessness of gabber and digital hardcore, and yank it in a weirder direction.
1999, SPIN, volume 15, number 3, page 145:It was quite weird to bump into all my ex-girlfriends on the same day.
[…] filled with laphet. Fermented tea leaves kneaded with peanut oil, laphet is, hands-down, Myanmar's weirdest and most wonderful contribution to world cuisine.
2002 August, Gourmet, volume 62, numbers 7-12, page 71:It was weird for him to watch boys play with Barbie dolls.
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Relating to weird fiction ("a macabre subgenre of speculative fiction").
In his introduction to the 1955 volume, [Ray] Bradbury singles out these stories as oddities in his canon — he wrote this kind of tale before his twenty-sixth birthday (1946), and rarely since. They are pure fantasy of the "weird" sort and include some of Bradbury's most striking pieces: "The Scythe" (1943), "The Lake" (1944), "The Jar" (1944), "Skeleton" (1945), and "The Small Assassin" (1946)
1978, Jeffrey Helterman, Richard Layman, editors, Dictionary of Literary Biography, Volume 2: American Novelists Since World War II, Detroit, M.A.: Gale Research Company, →ISBN, page 62, column 1:a weird story
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(qualifier:archaic senses) Belonging, pertaining, or related to fate, destiny, or to the Fates; able to influence fate.
Whiles I ſtood rapt in the wonder of it, came Miſſiues from the King, who all-hail'd me Thane of Cawdor, by which Title before, these weyward Sisters saluted me, and referr'd me to the comming on of time, with haile, King that ſhalt be.
c. 1606 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Tragedie of Macbeth”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act I, scene v], page 134, column 1:
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(qualifier:archaic senses) Related to witches or witchcraft; supernatural; unearthly; suggestive of witches, witchcraft or unearthliness; uncanny; unearthly.
Those sweet, low tones, that seemed like a weird incantation.
1847 November 1, Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, Evangeline, a Tale of Acadie, Boston, Mass.: William D. Ticknor & Company, →OCLC, part I, page 134:It may be in that dark hour at the burn-foot, before the spate caught her, she had been given grace to resist her adversary and fling herself upon God's mercy. And it would seem that it had been granted; for when he came to the Skerburnfoot, there in the corner sat the weird wife Alison, dead as a stone.
1902, John Buchan, The Outgoing of the Tide:
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(broadly, qualifier:archaic senses) Having super- or preternatural power.
Naphtha lamps shed a weird light over a busy scene, for the work was being continued night and day. A score or so of sturdy navvies were shovelling and picking along the track.
1912, Victor Whitechurch, Thrilling Stories of the Railway:
Forms
| Spelling | Features | Labels | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| weyard | alternative | lexicographic | |
| weirder | Degree=Cmp | lexicographic | |
| weirdest | Degree=Sup | lexicographic | |
| wierd | alternative, obsolete | lexicographic | |
| weyward | alternative | lexicographic | |
| weïrd | alternative, obsolete | lexicographic |
Deriveds
weird and wonderful · weirdly · weird-ass · weirdie · weird out · weirden · weirdsome · weirding · weirdist · weird number · one weird trick · weird-looking · weird matching · weirdness · weird sister · weird fiction · weirdo
Synonyms
anomalous · dotty · fatidic · hatstand · magicianlike · as queer as Dick's hatband · apeshit · wizardlike · strange · hinky · selcouth · odd · harebrained · queer as a nine bob note · foreordained · sicko · loopy · foreordained · eerie · weird · witchy · lunatic · odd · meshugge · fremd · unexpected · discrepant · unusual · insane · exceptional · magicianly · crazy as a pet coon · quaint · oddball · whackjob · monstrous · funny · screwy · queer as a coot · meshigener · cra-cra · loony tunes · fucked in the head · odd · non compos mentis · seld · witchlike · weirdsome · wacko · witchlike · moonsick · witchy · spooky · queer · heteroclite · predestined · crazy as a bedbug · nutso · uncanny · peculiar · nerts · whacko · unwonted · irregular · over the edge · incongruous · distraught · crackers · extraordinary · weird · bughouse · buggish · cracked · eldritch · strange · fateful · bat-shit · curious · batpoop · rare · crazy · incongruitous · uncommon · 5150 · fremd · mentally ill · yampy · loon · eerie · outlandish · wode · trippy · freak · cray-cray · psychoceramic · destined · demented · wackadoodle · nucking futs · strange · crazy as a cootie bug · gaga · deviant · daffy · freakish · predestined · outré · kooky · wizardy · squirrelly · queer as a three dollar bill · buggy · nonsane · nutter · doomed · batcrap · potty · crazy as a cootie · eccentric · zany · weird · deranged · out of the ordinary · yampy · rum · whacky · batchy · nut job · off the beam · preordained · barking mad · singular · peculiar · bizarre · loco · nuts · witchly · uncouth · ripshit · witchish · uncanny · queer as Dick's hatband · psychotic · psycho · bashert · weird · batty · bats · unearthly · witchish · fruit loops · loony · out of the ordinary · cray · bizarre · rummy · mental · witchly · nut · freaky · magiciany · queer as a clockwork orange · cuckoo · fucked up · unbalanced · fated · bread baskets · aberrant · starkers · crazed · kooky · forby · fateful · unsane · predevote · errant · nutballs · batshit · bonkers · booky · doolally · barmy · tonto · daft · off the chain · bananas · wizardly · unconventional · nonstandard · mad · alien · disturbed · abnormal · barking · nutty · unreasonable · fey
Translations (187)
de eigenartig (having an unusually strange character or behaviour) · mwl squejito (deviating from the normal; bizarre) · haw ano (having super- or preternatural power) · is skrýtinn (deviating from the normal; bizarre) · da besynderlig (having an unusually strange character or behaviour) · ru чудно́й (deviating from the normal; bizarre) · sv märkvärdig (having an unusually strange character or behaviour) · ca rar (deviating from the normal; bizarre) · ka უცნაური (deviating from the normal; bizarre) · tr yadırgatıcı (having an unusually strange character or behaviour) · ru чудно́й (having an unusually strange character or behaviour) · sv konstig (having an unusually strange character or behaviour) · tl kakaiba (having an unusually strange character or behaviour) · izh muudra (having an unusually strange character or behaviour) · cs zvláštní (having an unusually strange character or behaviour) · vi kì quặc (having an unusually strange character or behaviour) · de sonderbar (deviating from the normal; bizarre) · fo løgin (having an unusually strange character or behaviour) · es raro (deviating from the normal; bizarre) · id aneh (having an unusually strange character or behaviour) · de bizarr (deviating from the normal; bizarre) · ja 変 (deviating from the normal; bizarre) · da ejendommelig (having an unusually strange character or behaviour) · cmn 奇怪 (having an unusually strange character or behaviour) · yi משונהדיק (having an unusually strange character or behaviour) · tr acaip (having super- or preternatural power) · sv underlig (having an unusually strange character or behaviour) · nl eigenaardig (deviating from the normal; bizarre) · de seltsam (deviating from the normal; bizarre) · lad toaf (deviating from the normal; bizarre) · ast raru (deviating from the normal; bizarre) · acw غَريب (having an unusually strange character or behaviour) · ast estrañu (having an unusually strange character or behaviour) · fi omituinen (having an unusually strange character or behaviour) · tr tüyler ürpertici (having an unusually strange character or behaviour) · is skrýtinn (having an unusually strange character or behaviour) · cs zvláštní (deviating from the normal; bizarre) · lad toaf (having an unusually strange character or behaviour) · nl ongewoon (deviating from the normal; bizarre) · nb underlig (having an unusually strange character or behaviour) · pt estranho (having an unusually strange character or behaviour) · es raro (having an unusually strange character or behaviour) · sv underlig (deviating from the normal; bizarre) · pdt schnoopichm sondaboa (having an unusually strange character or behaviour) · pt estranho (deviating from the normal; bizarre) · it fuori dall'ordinario (having super- or preternatural power) · uk надприро́дний (having super- or preternatural power) · sv märklig (deviating from the normal; bizarre) · de komisch (having an unusually strange character or behaviour) · it innaturale (having super- or preternatural power) · pl dziwaczny (deviating from the normal; bizarre) · nl bizar (having an unusually strange character or behaviour) · uk чудерна́цький (deviating from the normal; bizarre) · fi yliluonnollinen (having super- or preternatural power) · ar غَرِيب (having an unusually strange character or behaviour) · nl eigenaardig (having an unusually strange character or behaviour) · it surreale (having super- or preternatural power) · ru сверхъесте́ственный (having super- or preternatural power) · uk ди́вний (deviating from the normal; bizarre) · tr garip (having an unusually strange character or behaviour) · eo stranga (having an unusually strange character or behaviour) · tr acayip (having an unusually strange character or behaviour) · nl bovennatuurlijk (having super- or preternatural power) · tr garip (deviating from the normal; bizarre) · es extraño (having super- or preternatural power) · fi kummallinen (having an unusually strange character or behaviour) · ru стра́нный (deviating from the normal; bizarre) · fa عجیب (having an unusually strange character or behaviour) · it bizzarro (having an unusually strange character or behaviour) · vi kì quái (having an unusually strange character or behaviour) · it assurdo (having super- or preternatural power) · ar عَجِيب (having an unusually strange character or behaviour) · es cuático (deviating from the normal; bizarre) · uk химе́рний (deviating from the normal; bizarre) · ur عجیب (having an unusually strange character or behaviour) · nl vreemd (having an unusually strange character or behaviour) · km ជំលើយ (deviating from the normal; bizarre) · it bizzarro (deviating from the normal; bizarre) · nl merkwaardig (deviating from the normal; bizarre) · sv konstig (deviating from the normal; bizarre) · nl vreemd (deviating from the normal; bizarre) · de übernatürlich (having super- or preternatural power) · tr tuhaf (deviating from the normal; bizarre) · pdt sondaboa (deviating from the normal; bizarre) · fi outo (deviating from the normal; bizarre) · arz عجيب (deviating from the normal; bizarre) · ja 変わった (having an unusually strange character or behaviour) · yi מאָדנע (deviating from the normal; bizarre) · ang seldcūþ (having an unusually strange character or behaviour) · es cuático (having an unusually strange character or behaviour) · es bizarro (having an unusually strange character or behaviour) · vi lạ (deviating from the normal; bizarre) · fr bizarre (deviating from the normal; bizarre) · es anormal (having an unusually strange character or behaviour) · gl raro (having an unusually strange character or behaviour) · izh vastumain (having an unusually strange character or behaviour) · ast ralu (deviating from the normal; bizarre) · ru потусторо́нний (having super- or preternatural power) · fo løgin (deviating from the normal; bizarre) · de geheimnisvoll (having super- or preternatural power) · haw āiwaiwa (having an unusually strange character or behaviour) · cs divný (having an unusually strange character or behaviour) · ast ralu (having an unusually strange character or behaviour) · es bizarro (deviating from the normal; bizarre) · haw āiwaiwa (deviating from the normal; bizarre) · it bislacco (deviating from the normal; bizarre) · pdt schnoopich (deviating from the normal; bizarre) · ru стра́нный (having an unusually strange character or behaviour) · yi מאָדנע (having an unusually strange character or behaviour) · ka უცნაური (having an unusually strange character or behaviour) · pl dziwny (having an unusually strange character or behaviour) · tr acaip (deviating from the normal; bizarre) · uk чудерна́цький (having an unusually strange character or behaviour) · it strano (having an unusually strange character or behaviour) · de unheimlich (having super- or preternatural power) · gl estraño (having an unusually strange character or behaviour) · fr étrange (having an unusually strange character or behaviour) · ang seldcūþ (deviating from the normal; bizarre) · ru причу́дливый (deviating from the normal; bizarre) · es extraño (deviating from the normal; bizarre) · sk divný (deviating from the normal; bizarre) · fi outo (having an unusually strange character or behaviour) · lad estranyo (having an unusually strange character or behaviour) · fi kummallinen (deviating from the normal; bizarre) · vi kì lạ (deviating from the normal; bizarre) · haw ʻeʻehia (having super- or preternatural power) · de merkwürdig (having an unusually strange character or behaviour) · ro ciudat (having an unusually strange character or behaviour) · km ចំឡែក (having an unusually strange character or behaviour) · ja おかしい (having an unusually strange character or behaviour) · mk чудно (having an unusually strange character or behaviour) · ja おかしい (deviating from the normal; bizarre) · enm straunge (having an unusually strange character or behaviour) · sv besynnerlig (having an unusually strange character or behaviour) · de merkwürdig (deviating from the normal; bizarre) · de eigenartig (deviating from the normal; bizarre) · sv märkvärdig (deviating from the normal; bizarre) · sv märklig (having an unusually strange character or behaviour) · enm straunge (deviating from the normal; bizarre) · gl estraño (deviating from the normal; bizarre) · nb merkelig (having an unusually strange character or behaviour) · gl raro (deviating from the normal; bizarre) · pt bizarro (deviating from the normal; bizarre) · uk дива́цький (having an unusually strange character or behaviour) · bg причудлив (deviating from the normal; bizarre) · vi kì dị (deviating from the normal; bizarre) · da sær (having an unusually strange character or behaviour) · ca estrany (deviating from the normal; bizarre) · sv besynnerlig (deviating from the normal; bizarre) · nl raar (having an unusually strange character or behaviour) · izh muudra (deviating from the normal; bizarre) · cs divný (deviating from the normal; bizarre) · it strambo (deviating from the normal; bizarre) · unm wëlelëmi (deviating from the normal; bizarre) · ro straniu (having an unusually strange character or behaviour) · ast estrañu (deviating from the normal; bizarre) · fo løgið (having an unusually strange character or behaviour) · yi משונהדיק (deviating from the normal; bizarre) · nl bizar (deviating from the normal; bizarre) · tr esrarengiz (having super- or preternatural power) · lad estranyo (deviating from the normal; bizarre) · de seltsam (having an unusually strange character or behaviour) · cmn 奇怪 (deviating from the normal; bizarre) · uk ди́вний (having an unusually strange character or behaviour) · bg странен (having an unusually strange character or behaviour) · arz عجيب (having an unusually strange character or behaviour) · fa عجیب و غریب (deviating from the normal; bizarre) · ba сәйер (having an unusually strange character or behaviour) · da mærkelig (having an unusually strange character or behaviour) · hrx komisch (having an unusually strange character or behaviour) · tr doğaüstü (having super- or preternatural power) · ja 変 (having an unusually strange character or behaviour) · ru причу́дливый (having an unusually strange character or behaviour) · tr tuhaf (having an unusually strange character or behaviour) · fr bizarre (having an unusually strange character or behaviour) · mwl squejito (having an unusually strange character or behaviour) · bg свръхествствен (having super- or preternatural power) · it paranormale (having super- or preternatural power) · nl raar (deviating from the normal; bizarre) · ja 変わった (deviating from the normal; bizarre) · ur عجیب (deviating from the normal; bizarre) · el περίεργος (having an unusually strange character or behaviour) · he מוזר (having an unusually strange character or behaviour) · vi kì cục (having an unusually strange character or behaviour) · ast raru (having an unusually strange character or behaviour) · izh vastumain (deviating from the normal; bizarre) · it anormale (having super- or preternatural power)