weirdo
/ˈwɪərdəʊ/
noun
Origin
English
weird — fate, destiny (originally); strange, uncanny (modern)
Overview
Meaning Now
- A person who is considered strange, eccentric, or unconventional.
- A derogatory term for someone whose behavior deviates significantly from social norms.
Language path
Proto-Indo-European → Germanic → Old English → Middle English → English
Earliest form
weirdo
Earliest period
mid-20th century
Journey
The evolution of 'weird' from its Old English origin 'wyrd' (fate) represents one of the most drastic shifts in English semantics, moving from a cosmological concept of predestination to the modern colloquial descriptor for oddity.
Evolution
- Proto-Indo-European
*wert-
“to turn, wind”
The root of the concept of destiny as something that turns or revolves.
- Old English
wyrd
“fate, destiny, the power that controls events”
Central concept in Germanic mythology.
- Early Modern English
weird
“having the power to control fate (specifically the 'Weird Sisters' in Shakespeare)”
The transition from 'fate' to 'supernatural/strange' is often attributed to Shakespeare's usage.
- 19th century
weird
“uncanny, strange, odd”
Generalization of the term to describe anything unusual.
- 1950s
weirdo
“an eccentric person”
Formation via the suffix '-o'.
Connections
Word parts
weird
root
strange
o
suffix
forms informal nouns
Related across languages
Old High German
wurt
fate
Related words
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Related to weirdo
External references use DefinedTerm semantics.