unusualadj.
/(ˌ)ʌnˈjuːʒʊəl/, /(ˌ)ʌnˈjuːʒ(ᵿ)l/, U.S. /ˌənˈjuʒ(əw)əl/ Not usual; uncommon; exceptional. In common use from c1630.
ΘΚΠ
the world > action or operation > behaviour > customary or habitual mode of behaviour > unaccustomedness or state of disuse > [adjective] > unusual or unwonted
uncustomable1387
unwonea1400
unwontc1400
unwonedc1455
inconsuete?a1475
insolite1490
unused1513
unaccustomed1526
inusitate1546
unordinary1547
uncustomed1552
unwonted1553
insolent1581
unusual1582
unaccustomable1584
unquainted1587
wontless1587
untrafficked1596
diswonted1600
inordinary1606
inusual1609
invulgar1610
uncommon1611
uncustomary1650
uncommonplace1873
the world > relative properties > kind or sort > individual character or quality > quality of being special or extraordinary > [adjective] > special, extraordinary, or unusual
sunderlepeOE
specialc1325
strangec1330
undeemousa1400
outragec1400
singularc1400
stravagant1565
unusual1582
extraordinarya1586
remarkable1593
exordinary1601
peculiar1608
stupendous1640
eccentricala1652
particular1665
out-of-the-way1675
uncommon1705
awfy1724
exceptionable1801
tremendous1831
exceptional1846
exceptive1849
exceptionary1850
spesh1874
heart-stopping1891
off-brand1929
wild1955
cracker1964
1582 R. Stanyhurst tr. Virgil First Foure Bookes Æneis ii. 36 Priamus..On rusty shoulders sloa clapt his vnusual armoure.
a1616 W. Shakespeare Taming of Shrew (1623) iii. ii. 96 Some Commet, or vnusuall prodigie. View more context for this quotation
1628 G. Wither Britain's Remembrancer 284 God will..Put some unusuall Plague in execution.
1682 tr. J. Goedaert Of Insects 28 This is a Rare and unusuall Catterpillar.
1724 J. Swift Let. to People of Ireland 7 A new Governour coming at an Unusual Time must portend some Unusual Business.
1773 Life N. Frowde 56 I returned to my Book.., in a Situation quite unusual to what I had ever before experienced.
1821 W. Scott Kenilworth III. xvi. 325 Varney received his profligate servant with a rebuke of unusual bitterness.
1877 T. H. Huxley Physiography 196 A cloud of unusual size and shape was seen hanging over the mountain.
Derivatives
unusuˈality n.
ΘΚΠ
the world > relative properties > kind or sort > individual character or quality > quality of being special or extraordinary > [noun]
particularity1570
unusualness1579
egregiousness1606
remarkableness1623
extraordinarinessa1665
unusuality1799
remarkability1838
exceptionality1854
exceptionalness1886
the world > action or operation > behaviour > customary or habitual mode of behaviour > unaccustomedness or state of disuse > [noun] > unwontedness or unusualness
unusualness1579
unusednessa1586
unwontedness1591
insolency?1612
insolencea1631
uncommonness1705
unfamiliarity1755
unusuality1799
out-of-the-wayness1800
unaccustomedness1866
1799 W. Taylor in J. W. Robberds Mem. W. Taylor (1843) I. 259 They have..an unusuality which startles.
1807 R. Southey Let. 27 Jan. in Select. from Lett. (1856) I. 405 From its unusuality it would have a better chance of being read.
a1849 E. A. Poe Marginalia lvi It is to be said of Sallust..that his obscurity, his unusuality of expression,..bore the impress of his genius.
This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1926; most recently modified version published online December 2021).
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adj.1582