Definitions

from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition.

  • noun A structural or behavioral characteristic peculiar to an individual or group.
  • noun A physiological or temperamental peculiarity.
  • noun An unusual individual reaction to food or a drug.

from The Century Dictionary.

  • noun A peculiarity of mental or physical constitution or temperament; characteristic susceptibility or antipathy inherent in an individual; special mental disposition or tendency.

from the GNU version of the Collaborative International Dictionary of English.

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

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.

  • noun A behavior or way of thinking that is characteristic of a person.
  • noun A language or behaviour that is particular to an individual or group.
  • noun medicine A peculiar individual reaction to a generally innocuous substance or factor.
  • noun A peculiarity that serves to distinguish or identify.

from WordNet 3.0 Copyright 2006 by Princeton University. All rights reserved.

  • noun a behavioral attribute that is distinctive and peculiar to an individual

Etymologies

from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 4th Edition

[Greek idiosunkrāsiā : idio-, idio- + sunkrāsis, mixture, temperament (sun-, syn- + krāsis, a mixing; see kerə- in Indo-European roots).]

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License

First attested in 1604, in modern sense since 1665, from Old French idiosyncrasie, from Ancient Greek ἰδιοσυγκρασία (idiosunkrasia, "one’s own temperament"), from ἴδιος (idios, "one’s own") + σύν (sun, "together") + κρᾶσις (krasis, "temperament").

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Examples

  • With those who have lived years down south, one can easily realize that this idiosyncrasy is nothing more than commonplace and an inherent part of living with the natives.

    tal vez 2006

  • With those who have lived years down south, one can easily realize that this idiosyncrasy is nothing more than commonplace and an inherent part of living with the natives.

    tal vez 2006

  • Shame on the left wingers for attacking a poor six foot invisible rabbit whose only idiosyncrasy is an alleged fondness for rumpots, crackpots and ‘how are you Mr. Wilson’ comments …

    Think Progress » O’Reilly Reversal: “There Is No Attack On Easter” 2006

  • With those who have lived years down south, one can easily realize that this idiosyncrasy is nothing more than commonplace and an inherent part of living with the natives.

    tal vez 2006

  • Thinking of the Latin American idiosyncrasy, another significant feature in the cooperation pattern has been the fact that this movement is inclusive, and that it is not perceived as a competitor.

    Every one members one of another 2006

  • With those who have lived years down south, one can easily realize that this idiosyncrasy is nothing more than commonplace and an inherent part of living with the natives.

    tal vez 2006

  • With those who have lived years down south, one can easily realize that this idiosyncrasy is nothing more than commonplace and an inherent part of living with the natives.

    tal vez 2006

  • With those who have lived years down south, one can easily realize that this idiosyncrasy is nothing more than commonplace and an inherent part of living with the natives.

    tal vez 2006

  • With those who have lived years down south, one can easily realize that this idiosyncrasy is nothing more than commonplace and an inherent part of living with the natives.

    tal vez 2006

  • The difference in the power of the system to absorb different substances, appropriate whatever can be utilized, and throw off whatever can not be used, is sometimes called idiosyncrasy, but more properly it may be called vital resistance, and upon the integrity of this power rests the ability to combat disease in all its forms, whether it be the absorption of any animal virus or the poison resulting from undigested food.

    Alcohol: A Dangerous and Unnecessary Medicine, How and Why What Medical Writers Say Martha Meir Allen 1890

Comments

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  • noun: a behavioral attribute that is distinctive and peculiar to an individual

    Peggy's numerous idiosyncrasies include wearing mismatched shoes, laughing loudly to herself, and owning a pet aardvark.

    October 19, 2016