Eccentric - plus, take 2 minutes and play a word game!

[Merriam-Webster]( WORD OF THE DAY [July 7, 2018](#none) eccentric [Audio pronunciation]( adjective | ik-SEN-trik Definition 1 a : deviating from conventional or accepted usage or conduct especially in odd or whimsical ways b : deviating from an established or usual pattern or style 2 a : deviating from a circular path; especially : [elliptical]( b : located elsewhere than at the geometric center; also : having the axis or support so located Scroll down for more about eccentric TRENDING NOW: [socialism]( [uphold]( [due process]( [asylum]( [SEE ALL [>]]( PEOPLE ARE READING # [9 Words for the Wild and Carefree]( # [The Good, The Bad, & The Semantically Imprecise - 7/6]( # ['Brainwashing': A History]( # [Has ‘Supper’ Always Meant ‘Dinner?']( WORD GAMES AND QUIZZES: WEEKLY CHALLENGE [Who Knew?]( Take this quiz and discover 12 words for things you didn't know had words. [PLAY NOW]( Nailed this quiz? We have plenty more to try! [TAKE ME THERE [>]]( Did You Know? Eccentric comes to us through Middle English from the Medieval Latin word eccentricus, but it is ultimately derived from a combination of the Greek words ex, meaning "out of," and kentron, meaning "center." The original meaning of eccentric in English was "not having the same center" (as in "eccentric spheres"). In this sense, it contrasts with [concentric](, meaning "having a common center" (as in "concentric circles," one within another). But since the 17th century, English speakers have also used eccentric to describe those who are figuratively off-center. It can also be used to describe something that doesn't follow a truly circular path, as in "an eccentric orbit." Examples of ECCENTRIC "Nothing is more eccentric in our egocentric world than generosity." — Filip Noterdaeme, quoted in The New York Times, 7 June 2018 "Charlie has the eccentric habit of making a clucking sound that signifies everything and nothing. It's part of the film's unsettling sound design, which composer Colin Stetson ratchets up to full creep mode with a soundtrack that freezes the heart." — Peter Howell, The Toronto Star, 8 June 2018 Name That Synonym Fill in the blanks to complete a synonym of eccentric: _ _ d _ ep _ te _. [VIEW THE ANSWER [>]]( MERCH Show Your Wordie Pride! New swag now available — featuring our newly added words welp and wordie [CHECK OUT OUR SELECTION [>]]( MORE WORD FUN: [WORD GAMES [>]]( [TRENDING NOW [>]]( [WORDS AT PLAY [>]]( FOLLOW US: [Facebook]( [Twitter]( [YouTube]( [Instagram]( [Pinterest]( SHARE: [Facebook][Facebook]( [Twitter][Twitter]( [View this email in a web browser]( You are receiving this email because you opted in to receive the Merriam-Webster Word of the Day. [Unsubscribe from Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day]( [Manage your subscription settings]( Merriam-Webster, Inc. 47 Federal Street P.O. Box 281 Springfield, MA 01102 [www.merriam-webster.com](