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extraordinary

 - 4 dictionary results

ex⋅traor⋅di⋅nar⋅y

  [ik-strawr-dn-er-ee, ek-struh-awr-]
Use extraordinary in a Sentence
–adjective
1. beyond what is usual, ordinary, regular, or established: extraordinary costs.
2. exceptional in character, amount, extent, degree, etc.; noteworthy; remarkable: extraordinary speed; an extraordinary man.
3. (of an official, employee, etc.) outside of or additional to the ordinary staff; having a special, often temporary task or responsibility: minister extraordinary and plenipotentiary.
Origin:
1425–75; late ME extraordinarie < L extrāordinārius beyond what is ordinary. See extra-, ordinary

Related forms:
ex⋅traor⋅di⋅nar⋅i⋅ly  [ik-strawr-dn-air-uh-lee, ek-struh-awr-] , adverb
ex⋅traor⋅di⋅nar⋅i⋅ness, noun

Synonyms:
1. inordinate. 2. uncommon, singular, rare, phenomenal, special, signal.

Antonyms:
1, 2. common, usual.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
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ex·traor·di·nar·y   (ĭk-strôr'dn-ěr'ē, ěk'strə-ôr'-)   
adj.  

  1. Beyond what is ordinary or usual: extraordinary authority.

  2. Highly exceptional; remarkable: an extraordinary achievement.

  3. Employed or used for a special service, function, or occasion: a minister extraordinary; an extraordinary professor.


[Middle English extraordinarie, from Latin extraōrdinārius : extrā, outside; see extra- + ōrdō, ōrdin-, order; see order.]
ex·traor'di·nar'i·ly (-dn-âr'ə-lē) 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.
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Word Origin & History

extraordinary 
1431, from L. extraordinarius, from extra ordinem "out of order," especially the usual order, from extra- "out" + ordinem (nom. ordo) "order."
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper
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Legal Dictionary

Main Entry: ex·tra·or·di·nary
Pronunciation: ek-'stor-d&-"ner-E, "ek-str&-'or-
Function: adjective
1 a : going beyond what is usual, regular, or customary; specifically : of, relating to, or having the nature of a proceeding or action not normally required by law or not prescribed for the regular administration of law extraordinary session of the legislature> extraordinary relief> —compare ORDINARY b : of or relating to a financial transaction that is not expected to be repeated extraordinary charge against earnings> extraordinary gain>
2 : employed for or sent on a special function or service extraordinary>
Merriam-Webster's Dictionary of Law, © 1996 Merriam-Webster, Inc.
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