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extraordinary

extraordinary

20 7.1
Serving in a special official role, for example an ambassador, with powers beyond regular officials
  • adjective
  • /ˌɛkstrəˈɔrdəˌnɛri/
  • Formal
translation icon : extraordinario
  • To exemplify Concordia's spirit of cooperation between visitors and humans, I would like to introduce to you an extraordinary young man...
  • ambassador extraordinary
  • extraordinary circumstances
  • extraordinary session

Examples

  • That door is used for extraordinary circumstances, and these circumstances are quite extraordinary.

  • I'd like the world to meet some extraordinary people.

  • In the past hour, some new, rather disturbing elements have surfaced, possibly calling for some extraordinary measures.

    Fiction book (1996)
  • An extraordinary woman.

  • There must have been heavy political pressure applied to Wignacourt to confer such an extraordinary honor on the Lombard painter.

    Academic text (2012)
  • Sentencing guidelines also allow judges to depart from the ranges in extraordinary cases where aggravating or mitigating circumstances exist.

    Academic text (1999)
  • The committee is convening an extraordinary meeting to discuss the recent developments.

  • She received an honorary title due to her extraordinary contributions to the community.

  • The ambassador was given extraordinary powers to negotiate the treaty.

Synonyms

special
vsextraordinary
1.0

More important or different from what is usual

is used for an official serving an additional unusual duty
particular
vsextraordinary
3.8

More important than usual

is applied specifically to an official with extra duties
exceptional
vsextraordinary
129 4.1

Being much better than normal or usual

is instead a formal title for an official with extra functions

Antonyms

regular
  • Informal
30 3.9

Very bad in a strong, informal way

Compounds

An ability to imagine new ideas that change things

9.6

A government official sent on a special diplomatic mission with lower rank than an ambassador

Surface Forms

extraordinary positive

Morphology

extraordinary = ordinary (transparent) = extra + ordinary

The official-title sense ('special/supplementary to regular officials') is a direct extension of 'beyond ordinary', so the morphological relation is transparent.

Etymology

Extraordinary for an official uses the same parts extra- 'outside' and ordinary 'usual', so it named someone who acted 'outside the usual' duties. That's why an envoy or minister called extraordinary had special powers or a special role beyond regular officials.