idiosyncrasy
English
WOTD – 17 September 2009
Etymology
First attested in 1604, in modern sense since 1665, from Ancient Greek ἰδιοσυγκρασία (idiosunkrasía, “one’s own temperament”), from ἴδιος (ídios, “one’s own”) + σύν (sún, “together”) + κρᾶσις (krâsis, “temperament”). Analyzable as idio- + syn- + -crasy.
Pronunciation
- (Received Pronunciation) IPA(key): /ˌɪdɪəʊˈsɪŋkɹəsi/, /ˌɪdɪəˈsɪŋkɹəsi/
- (General American) IPA(key): /ˌɪdiəˈsɪŋkɹəsi/, /ˌɪdioʊˈsɪŋkɹəsi/
Audio (AU) (file) - Hyphenation: idio‧syn‧crasy
Noun
idiosyncrasy (plural idiosyncrasies)
- A behavior or way of thinking that is characteristic of a person.
- A language or behaviour that is particular to an individual or group.
- (medicine) A peculiar individual reaction to a generally innocuous substance or factor.
- A peculiarity that serves to distinguish or identify.
- He mastered the idiosyncrasies of English spelling and speech.
Synonyms
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Derived terms
Translations
way of behaving or thinking
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language or behaviour particular to an individual or a group
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(medicine) individual reaction to a generally innocuous substance
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peculiarity that serves to distinguish or identify
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References
- “idiosyncrasy”, in The Century Dictionary […], New York, N.Y.: The Century Co., 1911, →OCLC.
- “idiosyncrasy”, in Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary, Springfield, Mass.: G. & C. Merriam, 1913, →OCLC.
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