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aberrational

 [ab-uh-rey-shuhn]   Origin

ab·er·ra·tion

   [ab-uh-rey-shuhn]
noun
1.
the act of departing from the right, normal, or usual course.
2.
the act of deviating from the ordinary, usual, or normal type.
3.
deviation from truth or moral rectitude.
4.
mental irregularity or disorder, especially of a minor or temporary nature; lapse from a sound mental state.
5.
Astronomy. apparent displacement of a heavenly body, owing to the motion of the earth in its orbit.
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6.
Optics. any disturbance of the rays of a pencil of light such that they can no longer be brought to a sharp focus or form a clear image.
7.
Photography. a defect in a camera lens or lens system, due to flaws in design, material, or construction, that can distort the image.
COLLAPSE
Origin:
1585–95; < Latin aberrātiōn- (stem of aberrātiō), equivalent to aberrāt(us), past participle of aberrāre (see aberrant) + -iōn- -ion

Related forms
ab·er·ra·tion·al, adjective

Synonyms
1. wandering; deviation, divergence. 4. abnormality, eccentricity, illusion, delusion, hallucination.

Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2012.
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Aberrational is always a great word to know.
So is callithumpian. Does it mean:
a calculus or concretion found in the stomach or intestines of certain animals, esp. ruminants, formerly reputed to be an effective remedy for poison.
a children's mummer's parade, as on the Fourth of July, with prizes for the best costumes.
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Etymonline
Word Origin & History

aberration
1590s, "a wandering, straying," from L. aberrationem (nom. aberratio) "a wandering," from pp. stem of aberrare "go astray," from ab- "away" + errare "to wander" (see err). Meaning "deviation from the normal type" first attested 1846.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
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American Heritage
Medical Dictionary

aberration ab·er·ra·tion (āb'ə-rā'shən)
n.

  1. A departure from the normal or typical.

  2. A psychological disorder or abnormal alteration in one's mental state.

  3. A defect of focus, such as blurring in an image.

  4. An imperfect image caused by a physical defect in an optical element, as in a lens.

  5. A deviation in the normal genetic structure or number of chromosomes in an organism.

The American Heritage® Stedman's Medical Dictionary
Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company.
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American Heritage
Science Dictionary
aberration   (āb'ə-rā'shən)  Pronunciation Key 

  1. A deviation in the normal structure or number of chromosomes in an organism.

  2. A defect in a lens or mirror that prevents light rays from being focused at a single point and results in a distorted or blurred image. ◇ Aberration that results in distortion of color is called chromatic aberration. ◇ Aberration that is caused by imperfections in the surface or shape of a spherical mirror or lens is called spherical aberration. See also astigmatism, coma.2


The American Heritage® Science Dictionary
Copyright © 2002. Published by Houghton Mifflin. All rights reserved.
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