exotic
UK[ɪɡˈzɒtɪk]US[ɪɡˈzɑːtɪk]
adj
originating in or characteristic of a distant foreign country.
adj
strikingly unusual or strange, often in a way that is attractive or exciting.
Morpheme Breakdown
exo
tic
exo
outside
tic
adjective suffix
Etymology
the word exotic entered english in the late 16th century from latin 'exoticus', which itself was borrowed from greek 'exōtikos'. the greek term derived from 'exō', meaning 'outside'. originally, it simply described anything originating from outside, specifically from foreign lands. over time, the meaning evolved from a neutral geographical descriptor to one imbued with connotations of the unfamiliar, the alluring, and the strangely beautiful, reflecting the human fascination with the distant and the novel.
Analysis
Structure: exo (outside) + tic (adjective suffix)
exo (from greek 'exō', meaning 'outside'); tic (a suffix of greek origin via latin '-ticus', forming adjectives, often from nouns).
Examples
the market was filled with the scent of exotic spices from asia and africa.
she kept an exotic parrot with brilliantly colored feathers.
his ideas were considered too exotic for the conservative board members.