uncanniness

Meanings

• Adjective

  A feeling of unease, discomfort, or strangeness, especially when something is not quite explained or understood.

  - "The uncanny valley effect in robotics refers to a range of human emotions, from uncanny attraction to uncanny aversion."
  - "The old house, with its creaking floorboards and uncanny silence, gave her the creeps."
  - "The uncanny resemblance between the two siblings was uncanny."

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Rhymes

Words rhyming with uncanniness
annoyance , fanciness , gracefulness , ransomness

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Variants

List of all variants of uncanniness that leads to same result
uncannier , uncanniest , uncannily , uncanniness , uncanninesses , uncanny

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Etymology

origin and the way in which meanings have changed throughout history.

From the German word 'un-can-nig', meaning 'not knowing' or 'uncertain'. The term was popularized in English by Sigmund Freud in his essay 'Das Unheimliche' (The Uncanny) in 1919.

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Trivia

Any details, considerations, events or pieces of information regarding the word

1. The term 'uncanny' was first used in English in the late 19th century.

2. Freud's essay 'Das Unheimliche' was originally published in German in 1919 and later translated into English in 1938.

3. The uncanny valley effect is not limited to humanoid robots; it can also occur with animatronics, prosthetic limbs, and even lifelike dolls.

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Related Concepts

informations on related concepts or terms closely associated with the word. Discuss semantic fields or domains that the word belongs to

1. The Uncanny Valley: A psychological concept describing the feeling of unease or discomfort experienced when a humanoid entity looks and acts almost, but not exactly, like a real human being.

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Quotes

Quotes by authors and personalities

1. She could not teach herself to think favourably of Pansy, whose absence of initiative, of conversation, of personal claims, seemed to her, in a girl of twenty, unnatural and even "uncanny".

   - Henry James,{it}The Portrait of a Lady{/it},1881

2. As he approached quite close to the enclosure he saw an excited group surrounding the two fugitives, who, trembling with fright and exhaustion, were scarce able to recount the "uncanny" details of their adventure.

   - Edgar Rice Burroughs,{it}Tarzan of the Apes{/it},1914

3. I was struck by his "uncanny" ability to communicate arcane, complex economic policy and by his punk-rock instinct to question the status quo.

   - Bono,{it}Time{/it},18 Apr. 2005

4. To an economist, the 1990s bear an "uncanny" resemblance to two earlier decades: the 1920s in the United States and the 1980s in Japan. In all three decades, technological change produced extraordinary economic growth, leading to talk of a "new era" and triggering a bull market in stocks that terminated in a market collapse—widely regarded as the bursting of a speculative bubble.

   - Milton Friedman,{it}Wall Street Journal{/it},22 Jan. 2002

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Culture

Any cultural, historical, or symbolic significance of the word. Explore how the word has been used in literature, art, music, or other forms of expression.

The uncanny has been a popular theme in various art forms, including literature, film, and music. Freud's essay explored the concept of the uncanny as an expression of the subconscious and the fear of the unknown. In literature, Edgar Allan Poe's short stories often dealt with the uncanny, as did the works of Franz Kafka.

How to Memorize "uncanniness"

1. visualize
   

   - Imagine a situation where you feel uneasy or uncomfortable, like entering an old, abandoned house. Visualize the creaking floorboards, the eerie silence, and the feeling of goosebumps on your arms.

2. associate
   

   - Associate the word 'uncanny' with feelings of unease, discomfort, or strangeness. Think of a time when you felt this way and recall the details of the situation.

3. mnemonics
   

   - Create a mnemonic by associating the word 'uncanny' with the word 'unkempt', which has a similar sound and meaning of 'not kept in a proper condition'. This can help you remember the definition of uncanniness as a feeling of unease or discomfort.

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