Etymologically
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extraordinary

This is the current revision of this entry, as edited by bogdan on 16 October 2026 at 03:24. This address is a permanent link to this version.
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Pronunciation

  • IPA: UK /ɪkˈstrɔː.dən.ər.i/, /ˌek.strəˈɔː.dɪn.ər.i/, US /ɪkˈstrɔːr.dən.er.i/[1]

Etymology

It is Middle English extraordinarie,[2] borrowed from Latin extrāōrdinārius (“out of the common order”),[3][4][5] from the phrase extrā ōrdinem “out of the usual order”,[4][3][6] from extrā (“outside”) and ōrdō (“row, rank, order”) (see order).[4][3] Word Origins notes that, despite appearances, it is not formed from English extra and ordinary.[6]

Earliest recorded meaning

Out of the usual course or order: 1431 in Barnhart, in the Proceedings of the Privy Council; about 1460 in the OED.[4][7]

Semantic evolution

Exceptional or remarkable is from 1580, and exceeding the usual in amount from 1572.[7][3] Of officials, additional to the regular staff, often for a special purpose, is from 1585, as in ambassador extraordinary, where the word follows the noun as in French.[7][4] In the 17th and 18th centuries it also meant “additional” and served as a noun and an adverb (extraordinary fine), uses that passed in the 19th century to the shortening extra.[4][6] Extraordinarily is from 1564.[4]

Timeline

  • 1431 – out of the usual course.[4]
  • 1572 – exceeding the usual.[7]
  • 1580 – exceptional, remarkable.[7]
  • 1585 – of officials, additional.[7]
  • 1649 – additional, extra.[7]

Modern meaning

Adjective

  1. Very unusual, remarkable or surprising.
  2. Beyond what is ordinary or usual.
  3. Of an official or meeting, employed or held for a special purpose: an extraordinary general meeting.

Word family

  • extraordinarily
  • extraordinariness
  • unextraordinary
  • extraordinary ray

References

  1. ^ Jones, Daniel (2011), Cambridge English Pronouncing Dictionary, 18th ed., ed. Peter Roach, Jane Setter and John Esling, Cambridge: Cambridge University Press
  2. ^ Merriam-Webster Unabridged Dictionary (2024), online ed., Springfield, Mass.: Merriam-Webster
  3. ^ a b c d Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com
  4. ^ a b c d e f g h Barnhart, Robert K. (1988), The Barnhart Dictionary of Etymology
  5. ^ Hoad, T. F., ed. (1986), The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Etymology, Oxford: Clarendon Press
  6. ^ a b c Cresswell, Julia (2021), Oxford Dictionary of Word Origins, 3rd ed., Oxford: Oxford University Press
  7. ^ a b c d e f g Simpson, J. A.; Weiner, E. S. C., eds. (1989), The Oxford English Dictionary, 2nd ed., Oxford: Clarendon Press