queer
beyond or deviating from the usual or expected
How often you will meet it
Rank 1,757 of 71,295 words measured. It occurs 10,336 times across 175,160 chapters — 0.005% of every word in the library.
What it means
adjective
- beyond or deviating from the usual or expected also: curious, funny, odd, peculiar, rum, rummy a curious hybrid accenther speech has a funny twang
- homosexual or arousing homosexual desires also: gay, homophile
verb
- hinder or prevent (the efforts, plans, or desires) of also: thwart, spoil, scotch, foil, cross, frustrate What ultimately frustrated every challenger was Ruth's amazing September surgefoil your opponent
- put in a dangerous, disadvantageous, or difficult position also: expose, scupper, endanger, peril
noun
- offensive term for a homosexual man also: fagot, faggot, fag, fairy, nance, pansy
queer in real books
Each sentence below was written by a published author and is taken from a different book in our library. Open one to read the passage it came from, with narration.
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The detective, himself, stepped from the obscurity of the hall, smiling his queer smile.
The Abandoned Room · Wadsworth Camp · Chapter 1
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Two Bad Ones Kiki turned around and saw a queer old man standing near.
The Magic of Oz · L. Frank (Lyman Frank) Baum · Chapter 1
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I wondered less at his words than at the queer note of resentment in his voice.
Ethan Frome · Edith Wharton · Chapter 1
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Wy, they 'd queer the best pitches in life, if they kiboshed the Power of the Quid!
Punch — Volume 99, August 16, 1890 · Various · Chapter 1
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He looked at her intently, a queer, mischievous, yet penetrating look; then broke into a broad, genial laugh, quite Bacchic and succumbed.
Christian's Mistake · Dinah Maria Mulock Craik · Chapter 1