surreal

UK: səˈrɪəl | US: səˈriːəl

Definition
  1. adj. having an oddly dreamlike or unreal quality

  2. adj. resembling the bizarre or illogical nature of dreams

Structure
sur <over, beyond>real <actual>
Etymology

The word "surreal" blends the French prefix "sur-" (meaning "over" or "beyond") with "real" (from Latin "realis," meaning "actual"). Coined in the early 20th century by the avant-garde art movement Surrealism, it originally described art that sought to transcend rational reality by tapping into the unconscious mind. Over time, it broadened to describe anything eerily dreamlike or fantastically incongruous.

Examples

No data yet.