weird
Definition from Wiktionary, the free dictionary
Contents |
English [edit]
Alternative forms [edit]
- wierd (obsolete)
Etymology [edit]
From Middle English werde, wierde, wirde, wyrede, wurde, from Old English wyrd, wurd (“that which happens, fate, chance, fortune, destiny, Fate, the Fates, Providence, event, phenomenon, transaction, fact, deed”), from Proto-Germanic *wurdiz (“fate, destiny”), from Proto-Indo-European *wert- (“to turn, wind”). Cognate with Middle Low German wrd, wrth (“fate, death”), Middle High German wurt (“fate, death”), Icelandic urður (“fate”). Related to Old English weorþan (“to become”). More at worth.
Pronunciation [edit]
- (RP) IPA: /wɪəd/, X-SAMPA: /wI@d/
- (US) IPA: /wiɚd/, /wɪɚd/, X-SAMPA: /wi@rd/
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Audio (US) (file) - Rhymes: -ɪə(r)d
Noun [edit]
weird (plural weirds)
- (archaic, except in Scots) Fate; destiny; luck.
- A prediction.
- (obsolete, Scotland) A spell or charm.
- (Can we find and add a quotation of Sir Walter Scott to this entry?)
- That which comes to pass; a fact.
- (archaic, in the plural) The Fates (personified).
Synonyms [edit]
Derived terms [edit]
Adjective [edit]
weird (comparative weirder, superlative weirdest)
- Connected with fate or destiny; able to influence fate.
- Of or pertaining to witches or witchcraft; supernatural; unearthly; suggestive of witches, witchcraft, or unearthliness; wild; uncanny.
- Having supernatural or preternatural power.
- There was a weird light shining above the hill.
- Having an unusually strange character or behaviour.
- There are lots of weird people in this place.
- Deviating from the normal; bizarre.
- It was quite weird to bump into all my ex-boyfriends on the same day.
- (archaic) Of or pertaining to the Fates.
Usage notes [edit]
- Weird is one of the most noted exceptions to the I before E except after C spelling heuristic.
Synonyms [edit]
- (having supernatural or preternatural power): eerie, uncanny
- (unusually strange in character or behaviour): fremd, oddball, peculiar, whacko
- (deviating from the normal): bizarre, fremd, odd, out of the ordinary, strange
- (of or pertaining to the Fates): fateful
- See also Wikisaurus:strange
Derived terms [edit]
Translations [edit]
having supernatural or preternatural power
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having an unusually strange character or behaviour
deviating from the normal; bizarre
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archaic: of or pertaining to the Fates
Verb [edit]
weird (third-person singular simple present weirds, present participle weirding, simple past and past participle weirded)
- (transitive) To destine; doom; change by witchcraft or sorcery.
- (transitive) To warn solemnly; adjure.
- (transitive) To make (one) feel weird; make uneasy or uncomfortable due to weirdness; strike one as being weird.
- That joke really weirded me out.
Anagrams [edit]
Scots [edit]
Etymology [edit]
From Old English wyrd (“fate, destiny”).
Pronunciation [edit]
- IPA: /wird/
Noun [edit]
weird (plural weirds)
Derived terms [edit]
Categories:
- English terms derived from Middle English
- English terms derived from Old English
- English terms derived from Proto-Germanic
- English terms derived from Proto-Indo-European
- English nouns
- English archaic terms
- English terms with obsolete senses
- Scottish English
- English adjectives
- English verbs
- English words not following the I before E except after C rule
- Scots terms derived from Old English
- Scots nouns
