A friend of mine told me the other day that the word 'weird' referred to the mystical, magical, or supernatural. I was intrigued because usually when I think of weird it has to do with strange or odd or unusual, in perhaps an exaggerated way, but I'd never put magical or mystical with it. Following up on that I went to the dictionary, well the dictionary on the web now. Sure enough there are many definitions of weird, and most have little to do with odd or strange.
Dictionary.com lists 4 definitions for weird as an adjective:
1. involving or suggesting the supernatural; unearthly or uncanny: a weird sound; weird lights.
2. fantastic; bizarre: a weird getup.
3. Archaic . concerned with or controlling fate or destiny.
4. fate: destiny, one of the Fates
The origin is even more unusual. In Old English (before 900), the word meant worth. In Middle English it referred to the weirde sisters or The Fates from Macbeth. Late Middle English usage meant 'having the power to control destiny.'
Wow! I'm always amazed to discover what words really mean and how language and culture constantly change that.This just another cool example. What a great word for the day.
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