exotic etymology

Etymology

• Origin: Greek exotikos "foreign, strange"
• Late Latin: exoticus
• French: exotique
• English: exotic

Meaning

• Pertaining to or derived from a foreign country or culture.
• Strange, unusual, or unfamiliar.

Origin

The word "exotic" comes from the Greek word exotikos, which means "foreign, strange." This word was derived from the preposition exo, which means "outside" or "beyond." The suffix -ikos is used to form adjectives that indicate origin or belonging. Therefore, exotikos literally means "belonging to the outside."

The Romans borrowed the Greek word exotikos as exoticus, which was used to refer to things that were foreign or exotic. In the Middle Ages, the French borrowed the Latin word as exotique. The English word exotic was borrowed from the French in the 16th century.

Usage

The word "exotic" is often used to describe things that are foreign or unusual. It can be used to describe people, places, animals, plants, or objects. For example, someone might say that they have an exotic pet, or that they went on an exotic vacation.

The word "exotic" can also be used to describe something that is strange or unfamiliar. For example, someone might say that they saw an exotic creature, or that they heard an exotic sound.

Examples

• The Amazon rainforest is home to a wide variety of exotic animals.
• The spices used in Indian cuisine often have an exotic flavor.
• The exotic dancers at the club were all dressed in feathers and sequins.
• The film had an exotic setting in a remote mountain village.
• The professor spoke in an exotic accent that I couldn't quite identify.

exotic relate terms

• exoticism

  Etymology The word exoticism derives from the Greek word exotikos meaning foreign

• exotic

  Etymology Origin Greek exotikos foreign strange Late Latin exoticus French exotiqu

• exoskeleton

  Etymology Exoskeleton is derived from two Greek words exo meaning outside skelet

• alien

  Etymology The word alien derives from the Latin word aliēnus meaning of or belongi

• malic

  Etymology of Malic The word malic is derived from the Latin word malum which means

• Barbara

  Etymology The name Barbara comes from the Latin word barbarus which originally referr

• Samoyed

  Etymology The name Samoyed is derived from the Nenets word Samodiye meaning Land of

• macaroni

  Etymology The word macaroni is derived from the Italian word maccherone which is bel

• native

  Etymology Native derives from the Old and Middle English word natif which in turn c

• curry

  Etymology The word curry is derived from the Tamil word kari which means sauce or

• university

  Etymology The word university originates from the Latin word universitas which means

• compass

  Etymology Old French compas Latin compassus stride Vulgar Latin compassare to

• nation

  Etymology The word nation originates from the Latin word natio which means birth