eccentric

/ik-ˈsen-trik/

borrowed from Medieval Latin ecentricus, excentricus "not concentric with another circle, (of a planetary orbit in Ptolemaic astronomy) not having the earth exactly at its center," from Late Latin eccentros, eccentrus "not having the earth at its center" (borrowed from Greek ékkentros, from ek- {et_link|ec-|ex-:3} + -kentros, adjective derivative of kéntron "sting, goad, point, stationary point of a pair of compasses, midpoint of a circle or sphere") + Latin -icus

adjective

  1. deviating from conventional or accepted usage or conduct especially in odd or whimsical ways

  2. deviating from an established or usual pattern or style

  3. deviating from a circular path; especially : elliptical

an eccentric millionaire

eccentric products

strange singular unique peculiar eccentric erratic odd quaint outlandish mean departing from what is ordinary, usual, or to be expected. strange stresses unfamiliarity and may apply to the foreign, the unnatural, the unaccountable. singular suggests individuality or puzzling strangeness.

noun

  1. a person who behaves in odd or unusual ways : an eccentric person

  2. a mechanical device consisting of an eccentric disk communicating its motion to a rod so as to produce reciprocating motion