Word: idiosyncrasy (noun)

Associations

Idiosyncrasy means a unique or unusual habit, characteristic, or way of behaving that is specific to one person or thing. It is often something that makes someone or something different from others.

• He has the idiosyncrasy of tapping his foot when he is nervous. This means he has a unique habit that others might not have.
• One idiosyncrasy of the artist is that she only paints at midnight. This shows a special behavior linked to creativity.
• The idiosyncrasies of the old building include crooked windows and uneven floors. These are unique features that make the building special.

A synonym is "quirk," but idiosyncrasy is usually more neutral or descriptive, while quirk can sometimes sound more playful or odd.

Substitution

You can replace idiosyncrasy with:

• quirk (a small unusual habit)
• peculiarity (a unique feature or habit)
• trait (a characteristic, often used for personality) Using quirk makes the meaning more casual, while peculiarity can be more formal or about things, not just people.

Deconstruction

The word "idiosyncrasy" comes from Greek:

• "idio-" means "own" or "personal"
• "syn-" means "together"
• "krasis" means "mixture" or "blend" So, idiosyncrasy originally meant a personal mixture or temperament, something unique to an individual.

Inquiry

• Can you think of an idiosyncrasy that you or someone you know has?
• How do idiosyncrasies help make people or things more interesting?
• Are idiosyncrasies always good, or can they sometimes cause problems? Why?