Uncanny

Adjective

Definition: Strange or mysterious, especially in an unsettling way.

Synonyms: Eerie, Weird, Creepy

Antonyms: Normal, Familiar, Expected

Examples:

The uncanny resemblance between the two sisters was unsettling.
The uncanny ability of the fortune teller to predict the future amazed everyone.

Mnemonics:

Think of "un" as negating or opposing the familiar, creating an unsettling feeling.

Etymology:

Origin:

The word "uncanny" originated from the combination of "un-" (meaning not) and "canny" (meaning clever or shrewd) in the late 16th century.

Historical Usage:

The term was first used by Scottish writer Sir Walter Scott in his work "Letters on Demonology and Witchcraft" in 1830, describing the eerie and unsettling elements of supernatural and ghostly phenomena.

Related Idioms:

Idiom:

"Uncanny valley"

Explanation:

Refers to the hypothesis in robotics and animation that suggests when human replicas closely resemble real humans but still have slightly unnatural features, they elicit feelings of unease and discomfort in observers.

Misconceptions:

Misconception:

Confusing "uncanny" with "canny."

Explanation:

While "canny" can mean clever or shrewd, "uncanny" has a different meaning of being strange or mysterious. The two words have distinct definitions and should not be used interchangeably.