Dictionary
Thesaurus
Encyclopedia
Translator
Web
 
Help
Related Searches
Synonyms
Nearby Words

Abnormal

 - 5 dictionary results

ab⋅nor⋅mal

  [ab-nawr-muhl]
Use Abnormal in a Sentence
–adjective
1. not normal, average, typical, or usual; deviating from a standard: abnormal powers of concentration; an abnormal amount of snow; abnormal behavior.
2. extremely or excessively large: abnormal profit.
Origin:
1850–55; ab- + normal; r. anormal < ML anōrmālus, var. of anōmālus anomalous influenced by L norma norm

Related forms:
ab⋅nor⋅mal⋅ly, adverb
ab⋅nor⋅mal⋅ness, noun

Synonyms:
1. anomalous, aberrant, irregular, deviant, unnatural, odd. See irregular.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
Cite This Source Link To Abnormal
ab·nor·mal   (āb-nôr'məl)   
adj.  Not typical, usual, or regular; not normal; deviant.

[Alteration (influenced by ab-1) of obsolete anormal, from Medieval Latin anormālis, blend of Late Latin abnormis (Latin ab-, away from; see ab-1 + Latin norma, rule; see gnō- in Indo-European roots) and anōmalus; see anomalous.]
ab·nor'mal·ly adv.
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
Cite This Source
Word Origin & History

abnormal 
1835, replaced older anormal and abnormous (1742) under infl. of L. abnormis "deviating from a rule," from ab- "off, away from" + norma "rule" (see norm). The older forms were via O.Fr. anormal (13c.), from M.L. anormalos, from Gk. anomalos, from an- "not" + homalos, from homos "same." The Gk. word influenced in L. by association with norma.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper
Cite This Source
Medical Dictionary

Main Entry: 1ab·nor·mal
Pronunciation: (')ab-'nor-m&l
Function: adjective
1 : deviating from the normal or average;especially : departing from the usual or accepted standards of social behavior
2 : characterized by mental retardation or disorder —ab·nor·mal·ly /-m&-lE/ adverb

Main Entry: 2abnormal
Function: noun
: an abnormal person
Merriam-Webster's Medical Dictionary, © 2002 Merriam-Webster, Inc.
Cite This Source
Search another word or see Abnormal on Thesaurus | Reference
FacebookTwitterFollow us:
Partner Sites:
Ask AnswersEviteExpediaHotelsHotwireLife123LiveDailyMy Way