idiosyncrasy
[id-ee-uh-sing-kruh-see, -sin-]
noun, plural id·i·o·syn·cra·sies.
a characteristic, habit, mannerism, or the like, that is peculiar to an individual.
the physical constitution peculiar to an individual.
a peculiarity of the physical or the mental constitution, especially susceptibility toward drugs, food, etc.Compare allergy(def 1).
Also idiocrasy.
Origin of idiosyncrasy
Synonyms for idiosyncrasy
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019
Related Words for idiosyncrasy
eccentricity, peculiarity, mannerism, trait, habit, characteristic, feature, trick, affectation, distinction, singularity, bitExamples from the Web for idiosyncrasy
Historical Examples of idiosyncrasy
The Night (it must have been her idiosyncrasy) put her tongue out at them, too.
The Arrow of GoldJoseph Conrad
He did not even try to investigate this idiosyncrasy of his chief.
VictoryJoseph Conrad
This idiosyncrasy his companion, de Spain, had learned to tolerate.
Nan of Music MountainFrank H. Spearman
It was an idiosyncrasy of Jackson's to gather and take with him every filing.
The Long RollMary Johnston
Long and often did Lorna puzzle over this idiosyncrasy of her father.
The Jolliest School of AllAngela Brazil
idiosyncrasy
noun plural -sies
Word Origin for idiosyncrasy
C17: from Greek idiosunkrasia, from idio- + sunkrasis mixture, temperament, from sun- syn- + kerannunai to mingle
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
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Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
idiosyncrasy
[ĭd′ē-ō-sĭng′krə-sē]
n.
The American Heritage® Stedman's Medical Dictionary
Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company.