Definition Of Quirky In Quiet By Susan Cain

There is no word I love more than “quirky”. I love the way it purses one’s lips as the enunciate the “qu-“ sound, and the pleasant, lingering sensation of the “ee-“ sound. but my true affection for the word is derived not from its pronunciation, but its definition. From a very young age, whenever I was told to describe myself, my response would, without fail, contain the word “quirky”. This usage, however, was one-dimensional. I saw “quirky” as merely a descriptor for myself, a fancy word for “unique”. As time passed, my definition of the word would change. After entering high school and reading Quiet by Susan Cain, I developed a stronger sense of self-identity, and my definition of “quirky” gained the depth it had for so long sought. “Quirky”
was no longer generic. “Quirky” described my hobby of magic tricks and sleight of hand. It described the extreme fervor with which I threw myself into the musical ensembles at my school. It described the food allergies I tolerated every day. It described the newfound concept of introversion I had always felt but never defined. The growth of my definition of “quirky” from the naïve, simple-minded descriptor to the deep, introspective, characteristic is what makes “quirky” my favorite word.