Incongruous
/ɪnˈkɒŋɡruəs/noun
Not in harmony or keeping with the surroundings or other aspects of something; incompatible.
Did you know?The prefix 'in-' meaning 'not' combined with 'congruous,' which originally referred to agreement or harmony, reveals our ancient struggle against imbalance and dissonance.
Etymological Timeline
Latin
Latin
congruere
“to agree, to meet together, or to be in harmony”
Latin
Latin
incongruens
“not agreeing or not suitable”
Middle French
French
incongru
“not suitable or inappropriate”
17th Century
English
incongruous
“not harmonious or not in keeping with the context; inappropriate”
Explore more surprising origins