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idiosyncrasies

[id-ee-uh-sing-kruh-see, -sin-]

noun, plural -sies.

a characteristic, habit, mannerism, or the like, that is peculiar to an individual.

the physical constitution peculiar to an individual.

a peculiarity of the physical or the mental constitution, especially susceptibility toward drugs, food, etc. Compare allergy (def. 1).

Also, idiocrasy.

Origin:
1595–1605; < Greek idiosynkrāsía, equivalent to idio- idio- + syn- syn- + krâs(is) a blending + -ia -y³

Related forms

id·i·o·syn·crat·ic

[id-ee-oh-sin-krat-ik, -sing-] , adjective

Synonyms
1. peculiarity, quirk. See eccentricity.

Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2012.
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Idiosyncrasies is always a great word to know.

So is flibbertigibbet. Does it mean:

a chattering or flighty, light-headed person.

a scrap or morsel of food left at a meal.

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Example Sentences

Some doctor-patient relationships are dysfunctional simply because of the idiosyncrasies of the doctor and the patient.

People in the unit didn't want to discuss the idiosyncrasies of the economy.

But winning a board game is a trivial task compared with understanding the complexities and idiosyncrasies of human speech.

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Some doctor-patient relationships are dysfunctional simply because of the idiosyncrasies of the doctor and the patient.

People in the unit didn't want to discuss the idiosyncrasies of the economy.

But winning a board game is a trivial task compared with understanding the complexities and idiosyncrasies of human speech.

There are idiosyncrasies and details you are not going to figure out your first time doing it.

Idiosyncrasies are a set of weapons that are used directly to affect host nation population's will to fight.

Throughout baseball history, pitchers and hitters have adjusted daily to the strike zone idiosyncrasies of the home plate umpire.

Less time for linguistic idiosyncrasies to creep up.

But if you are worried about idiosyncrasies or showstopping problems, don't.

Pitchers and hitters have long had to adjust to the strike zone idiosyncrasies of umpires.

The world is mature to understand the idiosyncrasies of communications and is not immature enough to trigger a war worldwide.

Officials said they were leaving the idiosyncrasies intact.

On the page her idiosyncrasies can be less attractive.

The secret is to search for the city's pockets of beauty, its moments of greatness and its idiosyncrasies.

Many animals have singular personalities, preferences and idiosyncrasies.

The software also reveals the idiosyncrasies of thousands of guests.

You'd think that by this point, we'd understand that and take our geniuses' idiosyncrasies in stride.

Don't hesitate to stroll the neighborhood with a laptop to learn some of the idiosyncrasies of your network.

Another dilemma arose from the idiosyncrasies of religious life in the new state.

What hardware and software combination could accommodate such idiosyncrasies as the ubiquitous glottal stop.

Like any subculture, the academy has its idiosyncrasies and odd habits, which emerge in its annual awards ritual.

Certainly the idiosyncrasies of the paintings and drawings speak loudly of the collectors' personal tastes.

The house's idiosyncrasies have been framed by the garden and made endearing.

Over the years she has captured the idiosyncrasies of the.

Scholars of art often portray art history as a mysterious and labyrinthine subject, full of idiosyncrasies and dark corners.

Leigh was characterized by his understanding and indulgence of the idiosyncrasies of his partner.

Michell's intellectual idiosyncrasies were paralleled by his deep and decidedly nonjudgmental.

These sorts of collection shows can be relentlessly sycophantic, but this one is redeemed by its idiosyncrasies.

Rinzler said she had always felt drawn by the idiosyncrasies of her generation.

Some of the idiosyncrasies merit attention, she added.

Steiner could reflect others' brilliance while retaining his idiosyncrasies.

So she related two idiosyncrasies that others often mention.

Given their respective performative idiosyncrasies and, as important, their singularly nontraditional.

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Etymonline

Word Origin & History

idiosyncrasy

c.1600, from Fr. idiosyncrasie, from Gk. idiosynkrasia "a peculiar temperament," from idios "one's own" (see idiom) + synkrasis "temperament, mixture of personal characteristics," from syn "together" + krasis "mixture." Originally in English a medical term meaning "physical

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constitution of an individual." Mental sense first attested 1660s.

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American Heritage

Medical Dictionary

idiosyncrasy id·i·o·syn·cra·sy (ĭd'ē-ō-sĭng'krə-sē)
n.

A structural or behavioral trait peculiar to an individual or a group.
A physiological or temperamental peculiarity.
An unusual individual reaction to food or a drug.

id'i·o·syn·crat'ic (-sĭn-krāt'ĭk) adj.

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Matching Quote

"If Los Angeles has been called "the capital of crackpots" and "the metropolis of isms," the native Angeleno can not fairly attribute all of the city's idiosyncrasies to the newcomer—at least not so long as he consults the crystal ball for guidance in his business dealings and his wife goes shopping downtown in beach pajamas."

-for the State of California

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