idiosyncrasy (ˌɪdɪəʊˈsɪŋkrəsɪ
)
Definitions
noun
- a tendency, type of behaviour, mannerism, etc, of a specific person; quirk
- the composite physical or psychological make-up of a specific person
- an abnormal reaction of an individual to specific foods, drugs, or other agents
Word Origin
C17: from Greek idiosunkrasia, from idio- + sunkrasis mixture, temperament, from sun- syn- + kerannunai to mingleSynonyms
View thesaurus entry=
peculiarity,
habit,
characteristic,
foible,
quirk,
eccentricity,
oddity,
mannerism,
affectation,
trick,
singularity,
personal trait
Usage examples
But he, poor lad, had one idiosyncrasy , he shouted in his sleep.
, Coffin on the Water (1986)That the very idiosyncrasy of her interventions make this point.
Irish Times (2002)All surface idiosyncrasy , they have no deeper individual life.
Times, Sunday Times (2004)Englishwomen are too easily seduced by idiosyncrasy to pull off such consummate comme il faut.
, THEN AGAIN: Travels in search of my younger self (2003)