What is uncanny? How to use in English

Definition & pronunciation of uncanny

uncannyadjective

kỳ lạ

/ʌnˈkæni//ʌnˈkæni/

Where does the word uncanny come from?

The word "uncanny" originated in the German language as "unheimlich," coined by the psychologist Ernst Jentsch in his essay "On the Psychology of the Uncanny" published in 1906. Jentsch defined the uncanny as a perception of something as both familiar and unfamiliar, causing a feeling of discomfort or unease. The word "heimlich" in German has two meanings - familiar and cozy, as well as hidden and concealed - which contributed to Jentsch's concept of the uncanny. In English, the word uncanny appeared in print as early as the 18th century and initially carried the meaning of mysterious or supernatural. However, Freud's later conceptualization of the uncanny in the 1919 essay "The Uncanny" expanded upon Jentsch's definition and connected it to the unconscious mind, particularly to the connection between the familiar and the repressed. Freud's interpretation of the uncanny as the return of the repressed has influenced its usage in academic and psychoanalytic contexts today.

Vocabulary summary uncanny

typeadjective

meaningstrange, mysterious

meaningunwise, foolish

Example of vocabulary uncannynamespace

  • The doll's movements were uncanny, almost as if it had a life of its own.
  • The singer's note-perfect rendition of the song left the audience with an uncanny sense of unease.
  • The ghostly apparition in the mist created an uncanny sensation that sent shivers down the protagonist's spine.
  • The life-like robot's eerie silence and blank stare sent an uncanny vibe that left the onlookers unnerved.
  • The abandoned building's eerie stillness and unsettling silence created an uncanny atmosphere that crippled the investigator's nerves.

Synonyms and related words for uncanny

Comment ()