outre

Where does the word "outre" come from? It comes from Latin ultra, passing through French before entering English (1722).

Outre’s story begins in Latin: ultra meant “beyond.” A preposition meaning beyond. By medieval, the word had taken hold in French as outrer. 'to carry to excess', built on the notion of going beyond a limit. By medieval, French speakers had reshaped it into outre. The past participle described something taken to an excessive extreme. It reached English by 1722 as outre. Borrowed for behavior that passes the bounds of what is usual or proper. Today, outre means unusual and startling; outside the bounds of what is conventional.

1. Stage 1 · Latin · ancient ultra "beyond", a preposition meaning beyond.
2. Stage 2 · French · medieval outrer "to overdo, exaggerate", 'to carry to excess', built on the notion of going beyond a limit.
3. Stage 3 · French · medieval outre "exaggerated, excessive", the past participle described something taken to an excessive extreme.
4. Stage 4 · English · 1722 outre "bizarre, unconventional", borrowed for behavior that passes the bounds of what is usual or proper.