An example of idiosyncrasy is someone being allergic to air.
- the temperament or mental constitution peculiar to a person or group
- any personal peculiarity, mannerism, etc.
- an individual reaction to a drug, food, etc. that is different from the reaction of most people
Origin of idiosyncrasyClassical Greek idiosynkrasia ; from idio-, one's own, peculiar (see idio-) + synkrasis, a mixing together, tempering ; from synkerannynai, to mix together ; from syn-, together + kerannynai, to mix ; from Indo-European an unverified form ?ere-, to mix from source rare, German rühren, to stir
- A structural or behavioral characteristic peculiar to an individual or group.
- A physiological or temperamental peculiarity.
- An unusual individual reaction to food or a drug.
Origin of idiosyncrasyGreek idiosunkrāsiā : idio-, idio- + sunkrāsis, mixture, temperament (sun-, syn- + krāsis, a mixing; see ker&schwa;- in Indo-European roots).
- A behavior or way of thinking that is characteristic of a person.
- A language or behaviour that is particular to an individual or group.
- (medicine) A peculiar individual reaction to a generally innocuous substance or factor.
- A peculiarity that serves to distinguish or identify.
- He mastered the idiosyncrasies of English spelling.
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”).