eccentricity

[ ek-suhn-tris-i-tee, ek-sen- ]

noun

, plural ec·cen·tric·i·ties.

1. an oddity or peculiarity, as of conduct:

   an interesting man, known for his eccentricities.

2. the quality of being eccentric.

   Synonyms: freakishness, oddness, queerness, aberration, strangeness

3. the amount by which something is eccentric.
4. Machinery. the distance between the centers of two cylindrical objects one of which surrounds the other, as between an eccentric and the shaft on which it is mounted.
5. Mathematics. a constant expressed as the ratio of the distance from a point on a conic to a focus and the distance from the point to the directrix.

eccentricity

/ ˌɛksɛnˈtrɪsɪtɪ /

noun

1. unconventional or irregular behaviour
2. deviation from a circular path or orbit
3. a measure of the noncircularity of an elliptical orbit, the distance between the foci divided by the length of the major axis
4. geometry a number that expresses the shape of a conic section: the ratio of the distance of a point on the curve from a fixed point (the focus) to the distance of the point from a fixed line (the directrix)
5. the degree of displacement of the geometric centre of a rotating part from the true centre, esp of the axis of rotation of a wheel or shaft

eccentricity

/ ĕk′sĕn-trĭs′ĭ-tē /

1. A measure of the deviation of an elliptical path, especially an orbit, from a perfect circle. It is equal to the ratio of the distance between the foci of the ellipse to the length of the major axis of the ellipse (the distance between the two points farthest apart on the ellipse). Eccentricity ranges from zero (for a perfect circle) to values approaching 1 (highly elongated ellipses).
2. The ratio of the distance of any point on a conic section from a focus to its distance from the corresponding directrix. This ratio is constant for any particular conic section.

Word History and Origins

Origin of eccentricity¹

First recorded in 1545–55; from Medieval Latin eccentricitās, equivalent to eccentric- ( eccentric ) + -itās -ity

Synonym Study

Eccentricity, peculiarity, quirk, idiosyncrasy all refer to some noticeable deviation in behavior, style, or manner from what is normal or expected. Eccentricity usually suggests a mildly amusing but harmless characteristic or style: a whimsical eccentricity in choice of clothing. Peculiarity is the most general of these words, referring to almost any perceptible oddity or departure from any norm: the peculiarity of his eyelashes, of the weather. Quirk often refers to a minor, unimportant kind of oddity: Her one quirk was a habit of speaking to strangers in elevators. Sometimes quirk has overtones of strangeness: sexual quirks. Idiosyncrasy refers to a variation in behavior or manner exclusive to or characteristic of a single individual: idiosyncrasies of style that irritated editors but often delighted readers.

Example Sentences

Even then, these debunking claims, already quite common, seemed a bit far-fetched, but I shrugged and wrote it off: Everyone is entitled to one eccentricity.

From Salon

She has learned when to respond and when not; she knows the eccentricities and calibrations at play.

From Los Angeles Times

A Christmas super fan who keeps her tree up all year round admits her festive way of life strikes a "fine balance of eccentricity and bonkers".

From BBC

And at first, the bones of this “Speak No Evil” effectively mirror the unassuming allure and eccentricity of the original’s groundwork in how tourists bond.

From Los Angeles Times

I loved the characters, major and minor, and how their eccentricities sit in a bed of naturalism.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• foible
• idiosyncrasy
• peculiarity
• quirk
• weirdness