aberrance

ab·er·rant  (br-nt, -br-)

adj.

1. Deviating from the proper or expected course.

2. Deviating from what is normal; untrue to type.

n.

One that is aberrant.

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[Latin aberrns, aberrant-, present participle of aberrre, to go astray; see aberration.]

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aber·rance, aber·ran·cy n.

aber·rant·ly adv.

Usage Note: Traditionally aberrant has been pronounced with stress on the second syllable. In recent years, however, a pronunciation with stress on the first syllable has become equally common and may eventually supplant the older pronunciation. This change is owing perhaps to the influence of the words aberration and aberrated, which are stressed on the first syllable. The Usage Panel was divided almost evenly on the subject: 45 percent preferred the older pronunciation and 50 percent preferred the newer one. The remaining 5 percent of the Panelists said they use both pronunciations.

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aberrance, aberrancy

the condition or state of being deviant or aberrant.

See also: Behavior

Thesaurus

Noun

1.

aberrance - a state or condition markedly different from the norm aberrancy, aberration, deviance abnormalcy, abnormality - an abnormal physical condition resulting from defective genes or developmental deficiencies chromosomal aberration, chromosomal anomaly, chromosonal disorder, chrosomal abnormality - any change in the normal structure or number of chromosomes; often results in physical or mental abnormalities deflection, warp - a twist or aberration; especially a perverse or abnormal way of judging or acting