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Idiosyncrasy

1911 Encyclopedia Britannica

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• Idiosyncrasy
• Idiosyncrasies
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1911 Encyclopedia Britannica
• Idiosyncrasy

(Gr. ibcoavyepacria, peculiar habit of body or temperament; ibcos, one's own, and oyepaacs, blending, tempering, from avyKEpavvva9ac, to put together, compound, mix), a physical or mental condition peculiar to an individual usually taking the form of a special susceptibility to particular stimuli; thus it is an idiosyncrasy of one individual that abnormal sensations of discomfort should be excited by certain odours or colours, by the presence in the room of a cat, &c.; similarly certain persons are found to be peculiarly responsive or irresponsive to the action of particular drugs. The word is also used, generally, of any eccentricity or peculiarity of character, appearance, &c. ,