Eccentricities: meaning, definitions and examples

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eccentricities

 

[ ɪkˌsɛnˈtrɪsɪtiz ]

Noun
Context #1 | Noun

personal traits

Eccentricities are unconventional or peculiar behavior or characteristics that make someone stand out from others.

Synonyms

oddities, peculiarities, quirks.

Which Synonym Should You Choose?

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Word Description / Examples
eccentricities

Use when describing unusual or unconventional behaviors or habits, often in a more formal or scholarly context.

  • Her eccentricities include collecting vintage typewriters and wearing mismatched socks.
  • The professor's eccentricities made his lectures both unpredictable and entertaining.
oddities

Use when referring to things or behaviors that are strange or out of the ordinary, often with a focus on their rarity or uniqueness.

  • Among the oddities in the museum was a two-headed calf.
  • His fondness for talking to plants was just one of his many oddities.
quirks

Use when referring to small, unique habits or behaviors that are generally seen as endearing or charming.

  • One of his quirks is that he always whistles while he works.
  • Her quirky sense of humor made her a favorite among her friends.
peculiarities

Use when describing unusual traits or characteristics, often with a neutral or slightly curious tone, without negative connotations.

  • One of her peculiarities is that she always reads the last page of a book first.
  • The house had several peculiarities, like a secret passage and hidden compartments.

Examples of usage

  • His eccentricities include talking to plants and wearing mismatched socks.
  • Despite her eccentricities, she was loved by everyone for her unique personality.
Context #2 | Noun

behavior

Eccentricities can also refer to strange or unconventional behavior that deviates from societal norms.

Synonyms

eccentric behavior, idiosyncrasies, unconventional habits.

Which Synonym Should You Choose?

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Word Description / Examples
eccentricities

This term is used to describe unique, often unusual traits or behaviors that set someone apart from the norm, often in a mildly amusing or quirky way.

  • Her eccentricities, like collecting vintage typewriters and always wearing mismatched socks, made her a favorite among her friends
idiosyncrasies

This word describes personal peculiarities or quirks that are unique to an individual, often minor and usually neutral or endearing in nature.

  • One of his idiosyncrasies was that he could never eat without first arranging his food in a specific pattern
eccentric behavior

This phrase focuses more on the actions rather than traits, highlighting strange or unconventional behavior that stands out, sometimes causing others to find it odd or entertaining.

  • His eccentric behavior, such as talking to his plants and drawing imaginary maps, always amused his coworkers
unconventional habits

This term is used to describe behaviors that differ significantly from societal norms, highlighting non-conformity, and is often neutral or mildly positive.

  • Her unconventional habits, like practicing yoga at midnight and writing poetry on her house walls, fascinated her friends

Examples of usage

  • His eccentricities often amused his friends.
  • Her eccentricities sometimes made it difficult for her to fit in.

Translations

Translations of the word "eccentricities" in other languages:

🇵🇹 excentricidades

🇮🇳 विलक्षणताएँ

🇩🇪 Exzentrizitäten

🇮🇩 eksentrisitas

🇺🇦 ексцентричності

🇵🇱 ekscentryczności

🇯🇵 変わり者

🇫🇷 excentricités

🇪🇸 excentricidades

🇹🇷 eksantriklikler

🇰🇷 기이함

🇸🇦 غريب الأطوار

🇨🇿 excentricity

🇸🇰 excentricity

🇨🇳 古怪

🇸🇮 ekscentričnosti

🇮🇸 sérkenni

🇰🇿 ерекшелік

🇬🇪 ექსცენტრიკულობა

🇦🇿 eksantriklik

🇲🇽 excentricidades

Etymology

The word 'eccentricities' is derived from the adjective 'eccentric', which comes from the Medieval Latin 'eccentricus', meaning 'out of the center'. The term originally referred to the orbits of planets that were not centered on the Earth. Over time, it evolved to describe individuals whose behavior or characteristics deviated from the norm, leading to the modern usage of 'eccentricities' to describe unconventional traits or behaviors.

See also: eccentricity, eccentrics.

Word Frequency Rank

Positioned at #22,076, this word is part of extensive vocabulary. It's relatively rare in general usage but may be important in specific fields or formal writing.