eccentric

Meanings

1. 1
   noun

   a person with particular interests and/or mannerisms

   Doc from the movie Back to the Future is an eccentric.

2. 2
   adj

   Not at or in the centre; away from the centre.

   Strikingly, we see that party births tend systematically to be at policy positions that are significantly more eccentric than those of surviving parties, whatever decision rule these parties use.

3. 3
   adj

   Not perfectly circular; elliptical.

   As of 2008, Margaret had the most eccentric orbit of any moon in the solar system, though Nereid's mean eccentricity is greater.

4. 4
   adj

   Deviating from the norm; behaving unexpectedly or differently; unconventional and slightly strange.

   1801, Author not named, Fyfield (John), entry in Eccentric Biography; Or, Sketches of Remarkable Characters, Ancient and Modern, page 127, He was a man of a most eccentric turn of mind, and great singularity of conduct.

5. 5
   adj

   Having different goals or motives.

   a. 1626, Francis Bacon, 1867, Richard Whately (analysis and notes), James R. Boyd (editor), Essay XI: Wisdom for a Man's Self, Lord Bacon's Essays, page 171, […] for whatsoever affairs pass such a man's hands he crooketh them to his own ends, which must needs be often eccentric to those of his master or state: […]

6. 6
   adj

   Having or being an oospore with a single large oil globule on one side that displaces much of the ooplasm and forces the ooplasts to one side.

   Oospores may be centric, subcentric, subeccentric or eccentric. Antheridial branches may or may not be present, and are androgynous, monoclinous, diclinous or hypogynous.

7. 7
   noun

   One who does not behave like others.

   A tiny, feisty woman who always spoke her mind, Charlotte was an eccentric in the wonderful way that some women from the last century were natural eccentrics.

8. 8
   noun

   A disk or wheel with its axis off centre, giving a reciprocating motion.

   The position of the eccentrics which is necessary to make the pistons drive the engine forward must be directly the reverse of that which would cause them to drive the engine backwards. To be able, therefore, to reverse the motion of the engine, it would only be necessary to be able to reverse the position of the eccentrics, which may be accomplished by either of two expedients.

Etymology

From Middle French excentrique, from Medieval Latin eccentricus, from Ancient Greek ἔκκεντρος (ékkentros, “not having the earth as the center of an orbit”), from ἐκ (ek, “out”) + κέντρον (kéntron, “point”). Equivalent to ex- + -centric.