extraordinary meaning: definition, etymology and quotations

extraordinary

adj

UK /ɪksˈtɹɔːrdɪn(ə)ɹi/ · Hong-Kong /ɪks.tɹɑːˈɔː.dɪn.nə.ɹiː/

Etymology From Latin extrāōrdinārius, from extrā ōrdinem (“outside the order”). By surface analysis, extra- + ordinary. Doublet of extraordinaire.

Out of the ordinary; exceptional; unusual.

Except in extraordinary circumstances, […]
Everybody knew I was an extraordinary person. When I was born my beard was three feet long.1921, G. B. Shaw, Back to Methuselah:

3 more examples

The Houses may meet in extraordinary sessions at the request of the Government, of the Permanent Deputation or of the overall majority of members of either of the two Houses. Extraordinary sessions must be convened with a specific agenda and shall be adjourned once this has been dealt with.1978, Spanish Constitution of 1978:
Tony Woodcock's early try and a penalty from fourth-choice fly-half Stephen Donald were enough to see the All Blacks home in an extraordinary match that defied all pre-match predictions.2011 October 23, Tom Fordyce, “2011 Rugby World Cup final: New Zealand 8-7 France”, in BBC Sport:
From the ground, Colombo’s port does not look like much. […] But viewed from high up in one of the growing number of skyscrapers in Sri Lanka’s capital, it is clear that something extraordinary is happening: China is creating a shipping hub just 200 miles from India’s southern tip.2013 June 8, “The new masters and commanders”, in The Economist, volume 407, number 8839, page 52:

Remarkably good.

Special or supernumerary.

Synonyms: exceptional, unparalleled, noteworthy, outstanding, extraordinate
Antonyms: everyday, normal, ordinary, regular, usual
Derived terms: article of extraordinary value, eggstraordinary, extraordinarily, extraordinariness, extraordinarity, extraordinary claims require extraordinary evidence, extraordinary form, Extraordinary Form, extraordinary general meeting, extraordinary magisterium, extraordinary optical transmission, extraordinary professor, extraordinary ray, extraordinary rendition, extraordinary session, go to extraordinary lengths, superextraordinary, unextraordinary

noun

Etymology From Latin extrāōrdinārius, from extrā ōrdinem (“outside the order”). By surface analysis, extra- + ordinary. Doublet of extraordinaire.

Anything that goes beyond what is ordinary.

[…] the sum that will probably be wanted for each head of service during the year: it is divided into the ordinary, and the extraordinaries.1787, The New Annual Register: