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idiosyncrasy

   Also found in: Medical, Encyclopedia, Wikipedia, Hutchinson 0.03 sec.
id·i·o·syn·cra·sy  (d--sngkr-s)
n. pl. id·i·o·syn·cra·sies
1. A structural or behavioral characteristic peculiar to an individual or group.
2. A physiological or temperamental peculiarity.
3. An unusual individual reaction to food or a drug.

[Greek idiosunkrsi : idio-, idio- + sunkrsis, mixture, temperament (sun-, syn- + krsis, a mixing; see ker- in Indo-European roots).]

idi·o·syn·cratic (-sn-krtk) adj.
idi·o·syn·crati·cal·ly adv.

idiosyncrasy
Noun
pl -sies a personal peculiarity of mind, habit, or behaviour; quirk [Greek idios private, separate + sunkrasis mixture]
idiosyncratic adj

idiosyncrasy
a mannerism, action, or form of behavior peculiar to one person or group. — idiosyncratic, idiosyncratical, adj.
See also: Behavior
ThesaurusLegend:  Synonyms Related Words Antonyms
Noun1.idiosyncrasyidiosyncrasy - a behavioral attribute that is distinctive and peculiar to an individual

idiosyncrasy
Translations
Spanish idiosyncrasy [ɪdɪəuˈsɪŋkrəsɪ] nidiosincrasia
French idiosyncrasy [ɪdɪəuˈsɪŋkrəsɪ] nparticularité f, caractéristique f
German idiosyncrasy [ɪdɪəuˈsɪŋkrəsɪ] nEigenheit f, Eigenart f
Italian idiosyncrasy [ɪdɪəuˈsɪŋkrəsɪ] nidiosincrasia

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? Mentioned in ? References in classic literature
 
On this subject we had long and animated discussions -- he maintaining the utter groundlessness of faith in such matters, -- I contending that a popular sentiment arising with absolute spontaneity- that is to say, without apparent traces of suggestion -- had in itself the unmistakable elements of truth, and was entitled to as much respect as that intuition which is the idiosyncrasy of the individual man of genius.
But in spite of the dramatic rudeness which is sometimes of the idiosyncrasy, the true and native colour of his multitudinous dramatis personae, or monologists, Mr.
I acknowledge to this ridiculous idiosyncrasy, as a reason why I would give them a little more play.
 
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