Freak is a little word. It wandered the English language for 300 years before taking up its derogatory baggage.
Consider, how freak's meaning has changed over time:
- In the 16th century, "frik" referred to a sudden causeless change or turn of mind, a capricious humour, notion, whim or vaguary. The plot thickens: looking for a nickname that might have been given to Julia in the Perez household I search for Spanish translations of freak. The word "capricho" comes up. But, a linguist explains to me, I capricho doesn't mean freak it means caprice or whim. . .
- By the 19th century, freak meant a capricious prank, trick, or caper
- Mid 19th century - a freak of nature, person regarded as strange or contemptible (especially because of markedly unusual appearance or behavior)
- mid 20th century - one who "freaks out;" a drug addict
- 20th century - someone who shows great enthusiasm for an activity, person, or thing
- mid 20th century - US Slang (especially African-American) an attractive or promiscuous young woman or (rarely) man
As a noun:
- Something rare, isolated, unusual
- Something surprising, unforeseeable
- A twist of fate
- Something bizarre, peculiar, odd
- an enthusiast or devotee
- An addict, fiend, or maniac
- Go ape, go crazy, go mad, go to pieces, go postal
Like the little word, each of us navigates this strange world from a unique perspective. Each of us is sui generis -- one of a kind. Each of us is in some respects a freak.
(Big thanks to the Oxford English Dictionary)
Freak's enjoying a surge of popularity. Check out the NGRAM:
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