I. ikˈsen.trik, (|)ek|s-, -rēk noun
( -s )
Etymology: Middle English excentryke, from Middle French & Medieval Latin; Middle French excentrique, from Medieval Latin excentricus, eccentricus, from eccentricus, adjective
1. in the Ptolemaic system of astronomy : the circular orbit of the sun around the earth, the latter not being at the center of the circle ; also : the orbit or deferent of the epicycles of the moon or a planet
2. : a mechanical device consisting of a disk through which a shaft is keyed eccentrically and a circular strap which works freely round the rim of the disk for communicating its motion to one end of a rod the other end of which is compelled to move in a straight line so as to produce reciprocating motion
3.
a. : a person that deviates from conventional or accepted conduct especially in odd or whimsical ways
an eccentric who cluttered his estate with statues of himself
b. : a person or thing that varies from some established type, pattern, or rule in any way
Milton seems to me … the greatest of all eccentrics — T.S.Eliot
II. adjective
or ex·cen·tric “
Etymology: Medieval Latin eccentricus, from Greek ekkentros not having the earth as center, eccentric (from ek out of, out — from ex — + -kentros, from kentron center of a circle) + Latin -icus -ic — more at center
1. : not having the same center — used of circles, cylinders, spheres, and certain other figures; opposed to concentric
2. : deviating from some established type, pattern, or rule
his goods were so eccentric that only he could ever sell them — Wolf Mankowitz
: deviating from conventional or accepted usage or conduct especially in odd or whimsical ways
famed for his eccentric spelling
eccentric behavior made him the butt of many jokes
3.
a. : deviating or departing from the center or from the line of a circle
an eccentric orbit
: relating to deviation from the center or from circular motion
b. : located elsewhere than at the geometrical center : having its axis or support so located
eccentric wheel
4. : being away or remote from a center
their eccentric location makes it … costly to get oil from there — Ellsworth Huntington & Samuel Van Valkenburg
: off-center
eccentric loading occurs when force on a member such as a column is not applied at the center of the column — Army Tech. Manual 5-230
5. : of or relating to an eccentric : driven by an eccentric
an eccentric strap
an eccentric rod
Synonyms: see strange