different between bizarre vs outrageous

English

Etymology

Borrowed from French bizarre (“odd, peculiar, bizarre, formerly headlong, angry”). Either from Basque bizar (“a beard”) (the notion being that bearded Spanish soldiers made a strange impression on the French), or from Italian bizzarro.

Pronunciation

• (UK) IPA^(key): /b??z??(?)/, /b??z??(?)/
• (US) IPA^(key): /b??z??/, /b??z??/
• Homophone: bazaar (weak vowel merger)

Adjective

bizarre (comparative more bizarre or bizarrer, superlative most bizarre or bizarrest)

1. strangely unconventional in style or appearance.

Usage notes

• The compared forms with more and most are predominant. The alternative superlative bizarrest is fairly common, whereas the comparative bizarrer is very rare.

Synonyms

• See also Thesaurus:strange

Translations

Further reading

• bizarre in Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary, G. & C. Merriam, 1913.
• bizarre in The Century Dictionary, New York, N.Y.: The Century Co., 1911.

Anagrams

• Brazier, brazier

Danish

Adjective

bizarre

1. definite of bizar
2. plural of bizar

Dutch

Pronunciation

Adjective

bizarre

1. Inflected form of bizar

French

Etymology

From Italian bizzarro.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /bi.za?/
• Rhymes: -a?

Adjective

bizarre (plural bizarres)

1. bizarre, odd

   Comme c'est bizarre !

2. peculiar, quaint

Synonyms

• baroque
• étrange
• original
• singulier

Related terms

• bizarrement
• bizarrerie

Further reading

• “bizarre” in Trésor de la langue française informatisé (The Digitized Treasury of the French Language).

Anagrams

• barriez

German

Pronunciation

Adjective

bizarre

1. inflection of bizarr:
   1. strong/mixed nominative/accusative feminine singular
   2. strong nominative/accusative plural
   3. weak nominative all-gender singular
   4. weak accusative feminine/neuter singular

Interlingua

Adjective

bizarre (comparative plus bizarre, superlative le plus bizarre)

1. bizarre

English

Alternative forms

• outragious (archaic)

Etymology

From Anglo-Norman outrageus, Middle French outrageus, from outrage; equivalent to outrage +? -ous.

Pronunciation

• (UK) IPA^(key): /a?t??e?d??s/
• Rhymes: -e?d??s

Adjective

outrageous (comparative more outrageous, superlative most outrageous)

1. Violating morality or decency; provoking indignation or affront. [from 14th c.]
   • c. 1601, William Shakespeare, Hamlet, First Folio 1623:

     To be, or not to be, that is the Question: / Whether 'tis Nobler in the minde to suffer / The Slings and Arrowes of outragious Fortune, / Or to take Armes against a Sea of troubles, / And by opposing end them [...].

   • 2011, Paul Wilson, The Guardian, 19 Oct 2011:

     The Irish-French rugby union whistler Alain Rolland was roundly condemned for his outrageous decision that lifting a player into the air then turning him over so he falls on his head or neck amounted to dangerous play.

2. Transgressing reasonable limits; extravagant, immoderate. [from 14th c.]
   • 2004, David Smith, The Observer, 19 Dec 2004:

     Audience members praised McKellen, best known for Shakespearean roles and as Gandalf in The Lord of the Rings, for his show-stealing turn as Twankey in a series of outrageous glitzy dresses.

3. Shocking; exceeding conventional behaviour; provocative. [from 18th c.]
   • 2001, Imogen Tilden, The Guardian, 8 Dec 2001:

     "It's something I really am quite nervous about," he admits, before adding, with relish: "You have to be a bit outrageous and challenging sometimes."

4. (now rare) Fierce, violent. [from 14th c.]
   • 1590, Edmund Spenser, The Faerie Queene, III.4:

     For els my feeble vessell, crazd and crackt / Through thy strong buffets and outrageous blowes, / Cannot endure, but needes it must be wrackt [...].

Derived terms

• outrageously
• outrageousness

Related terms

• outrage

Translations

Further reading

• outrageous in Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary, G. & C. Merriam, 1913.
• outrageous in The Century Dictionary, New York, N.Y.: The Century Co., 1911.