bizarre
UK[bɪˈzɑː]US[bɪˈzɑːr]
adj
Very strange or unusual, especially in a striking or surprising way.
Etymology
The word "bizarre" entered English in the mid-17th century from the French word of the same spelling, meaning 'strange, fantastic'. The French term likely derived from the Italian "bizzarro", meaning 'angry, fierce, eccentric', which may have originated from the Basque word "bizar", meaning 'beard'. The semantic journey is thought to have moved from the notion of a brave, bearded warrior (fierce) to one who is unpredictable or eccentric, and finally to the modern sense of strikingly unusual or odd. This evolution illustrates how a word's meaning can transform dramatically as it passes between languages and cultures, losing its original concrete association and gaining an abstract, qualitative sense.
Analysis
The word is a loanword from French, borrowed as a single unit. Its spelling and form are not productively segmented into meaningful sub-parts in modern English.
Examples
The artist is known for her bizarre sculptures made from recycled materials.
He told a bizarre story about being abducted by aliens.
The coincidence was so bizarre that it seemed almost impossible.