eerie

English

Alternative forms

Etymology

From Middle English eri (“fearful”), from Old English earg (“cowardly, fearful”), from Proto-Germanic *argaz. Akin to Scots ergh, argh from the same Old English source.

Pronunciation
  • (General American) IPA(key): /ˈɪɹi/
    • Audio (US)(file)
  • (Received Pronunciation) IPA(key): /ˈɪəɹi/
    • Audio (UK)(file)
  • Rhymes: -ɪəri
  • Homophone: Erie

Adjective

eerie (comparative eerier, superlative eeriest)

  1. strange, weird, fear-inspiring.
    Synonyms: creepy, spooky
    The eerie sounds seemed to come from the graveyard after midnight.
  2. (Scotland) frightened, timid.
    • 1883, George MacDonald, Donal Grant
      She began to feel eerie.

Synonyms

Derived terms

Translations
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