Word of the Day : March 17, 2018

uncanny \un-KAN-ee\ adjective

Definition

1 : seeming to have a supernatural character or origin : eerie, mysterious

2 : being beyond what is normal or expected : suggesting superhuman or supernatural powers

Did You Know?

Weird and eerie are synonyms of uncanny, but there are subtle differences in the meanings of the three words. Weird may be used to describe something that is generally strange or out of the ordinary. Eerie suggests an uneasy or fearful consciousness that some kind of mysterious and malign powers are at work, while uncanny, which debuted in the 18th century, implies disquieting strangeness or mysteriousness. English also has a word canny, but canny and uncanny should not be interpreted as opposites. Canny, which first appeared in English in the 16th century, means "clever," "shrewd," or "prudent," as in "a canny lawyer" or "a canny investment."

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Aired March 17, 2018

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