Is there a noun for something that is "out of place" in space, like an anachronism is "out of place" in time? E.g., an old-timey barber shop in a chic neighborhood.
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possible duplicate of A word for two very different things juxtaposed?– CallithumpianCommented Jul 1, 2011 at 21:44
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6 Answers
I looked up the Greek root for place and thought, "hey, maybe I'll coin my own: anatopism." Except that it's already been done.
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All the answers were equally good, but this one was closest to anachronism IMO. Thanks! Commented Jul 2, 2011 at 4:02
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@spinning_plate, ...then not all the answers were equally good. Commented Jul 29, 2017 at 18:35
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@thomj1332 - I've been waiting 6 long years for someone to finally point this out. I can finally move on with my life - the relief is palpable. ;D Commented Aug 5, 2017 at 5:18
Incongruous
(which also works for replacing anachronistic as well as 'not in the right location')
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A few options (mostly not nouns, however):
- misfit
- sticks out
- out of sync
- misplaced
- misaligned
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1I like "misplaced", though Mitch's answer seems correct given the vocabulary level of "anacronistic".– KeithSCommented Jul 1, 2011 at 21:02
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The answer is anachorism defined in dictionaries as:
the placing of a scene, character, event, etc., where it clearly does not belong, either for special effect or as an oversight. See also anachronism. — anachoristic, adj.
An action, event, character or scene which is out of time sequence.
I like unlikely or displaced, or unsuitable if you prefer a negative connotation.
how about a conundrum or a quirk?
