An anachronism is something that’s placed in the wrong time period, like a Roman soldier wearing Birkenstocks. But what’s the word for if someone or something is literally out of place geographically speaking? You can use the word anatopism, from a Greek word for “place or region” or anachorism, from a different Greek word for “place, field, or village.” This is part of a complete episode.
Transcript of “Word For Being Out of Place”
Hello, you have A Way with Words.
Hi, this is Kate Scott calling from Indianapolis.
Hi, Kate, how you doing?
I’m doing well. How are you?
Okay.
What are you thinking about, Kate?
I’m hoping you can help me find a word for something that is like an anachronism, but spatial. Like when something shows up in a place that you don’t expect it and it doesn’t quite make sense. It just isn’t supposed to be there.
So the first time I thought about this was about 10 or 12 years ago. I was taking a walk around the block, and all of a sudden I see my uncle, who lives 100 miles away from me, riding his bike down the street like he lives there. And I thought, well, what are you doing here? Why aren’t you in Kentucky? It turned out he was just visiting, and I didn’t know it.
But this has happened several times since then, including last weekend when I was hiking in this beautiful state park in western Indiana. And standing on the side of the trail was a girl about 13 or 14 in a lacy hot pink dress and strappy white heels in the middle of the forest. Her friends were all in hiking gear. Nobody was taking pictures. So it just the location didn’t make any sense at all.
Do you have a word for this? She came dressed for a rave, but it was a hike instead?
Yes.
Oh, that’s hilarious. And you never found out what was going on, huh?
I have no idea. I’m so curious. I might have to try that outfit next time I go hiking.
Pictures.
Pictures.
Yeah, okay, so the person or the thing is out of context, basically, but it doesn’t have to do with time. It has to do with place, right?
Yes.
Yeah, I always have that. When I had a dog and I would go to the dog park, you know, I would see dog park people outside of that context and it would be the weirdest thing. You know, it’d be like, oh, it’s like it’s like seeing your teacher outside of school when you’re a kid.
Yes. So something that’s out of context. And yes, there is a word for that. I’m happy to tell you. And it’s like anachronism, which comes from Greek words having to do with time. But this one comes from a Greek word having to do with place, and it is anatopism.
Anatopism.
Anatopism, A-N-A-T-O-P-I-S-M. It comes from the Greek word tapos, which means place, like dystopia is a place that’s bad, or utopia comes from a word that originally meant no place. Anatopism is something that’s out of place, but spatially speaking.
And I have a second word.
Oh, you do?
Very similar, yeah.
What?
Anachorism, which also means out of place.
Oh, how cool. So A-N-A-C-H-O-R-I-S-M. Unfortunately, it sounds a lot like anachronism, so people will think you’re making a mispronunciation, but it’s anachorism.
I never knew that. And it’s a geographical misplacement, something that’s in an incongruous position.
No kidding. Also from Greek, I’m thinking.
Yeah, oh, absolutely.
Wow. So the ana is the not, and the khoros is place.
No kidding. So too good. Well, lovely. Now I have several choices, which will then cause people to say, what is that?
Yeah, that’s the problem when you introduce a new word like this in your vocabulary. You’re the evangelist for it. You’ve got to spread it. Otherwise, you’re just going to be misunderstood.
Oh, absolutely.
Yeah. Well, thank you. It was a lot of fun.
Take care.
Bye-bye.
Take care, Kate.
Bye-bye.
You too.
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