abnormal

abnormal (æbˈnɔːməl)

—*adj*
1.	not normal; deviating from the usual or typical; extraordinary
2.	informal odd in behaviour or appearance; strange

[C19: ab-¹ + normal, replacing earlier anormal from Medieval Latin anormalus, a blend of Late Latin anōmalusanomalous + Latin abnormis departing from a rule]

ab'normally

—*adv*

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 10th Edition
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Etymonline

Word Origin & History

abnormal

1835, replaced older anormal and abnormous (1742) under influence 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 was altered in Latin by association with norma.

Example sentences

But there is an abnormal weak spot in the planet's magnetic field at that point.

Skin cancer is the uncontrolled growth of abnormal skin cells.

Then they look over the data for signs of abnormal sleep or frequent wake-ups.

If you think your doctor will automatically tell you if you have an abnormal

test result, think again.

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Matching Quote

"Your Englishman, confronted by something abnormal will always pretend that it isn't there. If he can't pretend that, he will look through the object, or round it, or above it or below it, or in any direction except into it. If, however, you force him to look into it, he will at once pretend that he sees the object not for what it is but for something that he would like it to be."

-James Agate