Definition of Idiosyncrasy

1. Noun. A behavioral attribute that is distinctive and peculiar to an individual.

Exact synonyms: Foible, Mannerism
Generic synonyms: Distinctiveness, Peculiarity, Speciality, Specialness, Specialty
Derivative terms: Idiosyncratic

Definition of Idiosyncrasy

1. n. A peculiarity of physical or mental constitution or temperament; a characteristic belonging to, and distinguishing, an individual; characteristic susceptibility; idiocrasy; eccentricity.

Definition of Idiosyncrasy

1. Noun. A behavior or way of thinking that is characteristic of a person. ¹

2. Noun. A language or behaviour that is particular to an individual or group. ¹

3. Noun. (medicine) A peculiar individual reaction to a generally innocuous substance or factor. ¹

4. Noun. A peculiarity that serves to distinguish or identify. ¹

¹ Source: wiktionary.com

Definition of Idiosyncrasy

1. [n -SIES]

Medical Definition of Idiosyncrasy

1. An abnormal susceptibility to some drug, protein or other agent which is peculiar to the individual. Origin: Gr. Synkrasis = mixture This entry appears with permission from the Dictionary of Cell and Molecular Biology (11 Mar 2008)

Lexicographical Neighbors of Idiosyncrasy

idiophone
idiophones
idiophonic
idiophrenic
idioplasm
idioplasma
idioplasms
idiopsychologic
idioreflex
idiorhythmic
idiospasm
idiosyncracies
idiosyncracy
idiosyncrasies
idiosyncrasy (current term)
idiosyncratic
idiosyncratic reaction
idiosyncratic sensitivity
idiosyncratical
idiosyncratically
idiot
idiot-prodigy
idiot-proof
idiot-savant
idiot board
idiot boards
idiot box
idiot boxes
idiot card

Literary usage of Idiosyncrasy

Below you will find example usage of this term as found in modern and/or classical literature:

1. The Psychology of Special Disability in Spelling by Leta Stetter Hollingworth, C. Amelia Winford (1918)
"idiosyncrasy Scrutiny of the misspellings of our children reveals another peculiar phenomenon, which is perhaps akin to lapsing, but not identical with it. ..."

2. Psychology, Or, A View of the Human Soul: Including Anthropology, Adapted by Friedrich August Rauch (1853)
"idiosyncrasy. idiosyncrasy we understand that peculiarity of a constitution, ... idiosyncrasy does not belong to the whole race, its character is therefore ..."

3. Hay-fever and Its Successful Treatment by William Clarence Hollopeter (1899)
"idiosyncrasy.—Analogous to the neurotic habit is idiosyncrasy. Apparently the same understanding as to what an idiosyncrasy is has underlain the use of this ..."

4. An Introduction to the Principles of Morals and Legislation by Jeremy Bentham (1907)
"For if the mind be but a part of the body, it is at any rate of a nature very different from the other parts of the body. idiosyncrasy, 1 The characteristic ..."

5. Human Physiology by Robley Dunglison (1846)
"idiosyncrasy. The word idiosyncrasy is used, by many physiologists, ... Wagner,b of Vienna, has collected a multitude of cases of idiosyncrasy; ..."

6. Micro-chemistry of poisons: Including Their Physiological, Pathological, and by Theodore George Wormley (1885)
"idiosyncrasy, or a peculiarity of constitution, may variously modify the effects of ... In still another form of idiosyncrasy, there is a diminished ..."

7. Transactions of the ... Session of the American Institute of Homœopathy by American Institute of Homeopathy Session (1879)
"THE word idiosyncrasy is made up from three Greek words (ji$toi; ... It is a common saying that each man has some idiosyncrasy, meaning that he has some ..."

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