idiasm 
idiasm (id'i-azm), . [< Gr. i.Aiaa/iof, peculiar- 
ity, < Wtdfciv, be peculiar, < ifiof, peculiar: see 
idiom.'] A peculiarity. 
The idioms, idiotisms, and, above all, the itliaxiti* of 
Shakespeare will he thoroughly understood, and so much 
that now goes hy the board in all modern editions will be 
restored with intelligent reverence. 
C. M. Inylel/y, Shakespeare : the .Manamlthe Book, 1. 118. 
idio-. [L. id/0-, < Gr. iiio-r, one's own, private, 
peculiar: see idiom.'] An element in com- 
pound words of Greek origin, meaning 'one's 
own,' 'private,' 'peculiar.' 
idioblast (id'i-o-blast), . [< Gr. Wiof, pecu- 
liar, 4- /3/^crdf, offshoot.] A term proposed 
by Sachs for certain individual cells or tissue- 
elements which differ greatly, as regards their 
contents, from the surrounding tissues. Such 
are the resin-cells, tannin-cells, crystal-cells, 
etc., found in various plants. 
idiocrasy (id-i-ok'ra-si), n. [= F. idiocrasie, 
idiocrase, < Gr. Uuspoau, a peculiar tempera- 
ment, < <<!>f, one's own, peculiar (see idiom), + 
Kpaotf, mixture, temperament: seecros/s.] Pe- 
culiarity of physical or mental constitution; 
that temperament or vital state which is pecu- 
liar to a person ; idiosyncrasy. [Rare.] 
idiocratic (id"i-o-krat'ik), a. [< idiocrasy 
(-crat-) + -ic ; of. aristocratic."] Peculiar in re- 
spect of constitution or temperament; idiosyn- 
cratic. 
idiocratical (id"i-o-krat'i-kal), a. [< idiocratic 
+ -al.] Same as idiocratic. 
idiocy (id'i-o-si), n. [Also idiotcy, (. idiot + -cy; 
not directly < Gr. ISiurfia, uncouthness, want of 
education, also private life or business, < lituriif, 
a private person, etc. : see idiot.] The state of 
being an idiot ; natural absence or marked de- 
fect of understanding; mental imbecility. See 
idiot. 
I will undertake to convict a man of idiocy it he can not 
see the proof that three angles of a triangle are equal to 
two right angles. t'. W. Robertson. 
idiocyclophanous (id"i-o-si-klof'a-nus), a. [< 
Gr. i&of, peculiar, + Kwt/of, circle, + -$awK, < 
QaiveaSat, appear.] Same as idiophanous. 
Idiodactylse (id"i-o-dak'ti-le), n. pi. [NL., < 
Gr. Idiof, peculiar, + idxrvAof, finger, toe.] In 
Sundevall's system, a group of osciue passerine 
birds related to the crows, consisting of the birds 
of Paradise and sundry others, and constituting 
the fourth family of the cohort Coliomorplice. 
idiodinic (id"i-o-din'ik), a. [< Gr. Wiof, one's 
own, + oivof, rotation, a round area (taken in 
sense of 'pore').] In zool., reproducing or 
bringing forth by means of a special pore or 
opening of the body devoted exclusively to this 
function, and through which the genital pro- 
ducts are extruded. When idiodinic animals 
have a special gonaduct, this is called an idio- 
gonaduct. 
The Porodinic group is divisible into Nephrodinic and 
Idiodinic, in the former the nephridium serving as apore, 
in the latter a special (ISio?) pore being developed. 
E. K. Lankester, Encyc. Brit., XVI. 682. 
idioelectric (id'^-o-e-lek'trik), a. and n. [< Gr. 
irf/of, one's own, peculiar, + E. electric.] I. a. 
Electric by virtue of its own peculiar proper- 
ties, or manifesting electricity in its natural 
state. 
II. . A term introduced by Gilbert for those 
substances which become electrified by fric- 
tion, in distinction from anelectric. This distinc- 
tion was, however, based upon the erroneous idea that cer- 
tain substances (as metals) could not be electrified in this 
way. 
idioglottic (id"i-o-glot'ik), n. [< Gr. l&iof, one's 
own, + f^amnAf, of the tongue: see glottic^.] 
Using words or names invented in one's own 
mind. 
The boy soon gave up his idioglottic endeavors, learning 
German before his next-born sister had reached the age 
of beginning speeeh. Science, XII. 146. 
idiogonaduct (id"i-o-gon'a-dukt), . [< Gr. 
I6iof, one's own, + E. gonaduct, q. v.] The 
gonaduct of an idiodinic animal. 
The genital ducts of idiodinic forms may be called idio- 
gonnductf, as distinguished from the nephrogonaducts of 
nephrodinic forms. Encyc. Brit,, XVI. 682. 
idiograph. (id'i-o-graf), H. [< Gr. Uiof, one's 
own, + ypaifieiv, write.] A mark or signature 
peculiar to an individual ; a private mark or 
trade-mark. 
idiographic (id"i-o-graf'ik), a. [< idiograph + 
-ic.} Pertaining to or consisting of an idio- 
graph or idiographs. 
idiogynous (id-i-oj'i-nus), a. [< Gr. iiiof, pecu- 
liar, + ywi/, female (in mod. bot. pistil).] In 
but., not having a pistil. 
2976 
idiolatry (id-i-ol'a-tri), n. [< Gr. teJiof, one's 
own, + iMTpeia, worship.] Self- worship; ex- 
cessive self-esteem. [Rare.] 
Idolatry . . . differs hut a letter with idiolatry. 
Bp. Aniireicit, Ninety-six Sermons, II. 393(ed. 1841-44). 
idiom (id'i-um), n. [Formerly also ideom ; D. 
Mioiim = G. Dan. Sw. idiom = F. idiome = Sp. 
Pg. It. idionia, < LL. iilioma, < Gr. iaiu/ia, a 
peculiarity, property, a peculiar phraseology, 
idiom, < lotoiiaBai, make one's own, appropriate 
to oneself, < idwf, one's own, private, personal, 
peculiar, separate, in older Gr. FiSiof, prob. for 
* FtAof , 'aFe&iof, *o-Ftjof (= L. suits, one's own, his, 
her, etc.), connected with cfeie, ace. o-^tof, o<t>e, 
they, and with 01', = L. siti, of oneself: see sui 
generis.] 1. A mode of expression peculiar to 
a language; a peculiarity of phraseology; a 
phrase or form of words approved by the usage 
of a language, whether written or spoken, and 
often having a signification other than its gram- 
matical or logical one. See idiotism, 1. 
There are certain idiifmi, certain forms of speech, cer- 
tain propositions, which the Holy Ghost repeats several 
times, upon several occasions in the Scriptures. 
Donne, Sermons, vi. 
Some that with Care true Eloquence shall teach, 
And to just Idioms fix our doubtful Speech. 
Prior, Carmen Seculare (1700X st, 34. 
2. The genius or peculiar cast of a language ; 
hence, a peculiar form or variation of lan- 
guage ; a dialect. 
The beautiful Provencal, . . . more rich and melodious 
than any other idiom in the Peninsula. 
Prescott, Ferd. and Isa., Int. 
= Syn. 2. Dialect, Diction, etc. See language. 
idiomatic (id*i-o-mat'ik), a. [= F. idiomatique 
= Sp. idiomdtico = Pg. It. idiomatico (cf. G. 
idiomatisch = Dan. Sw. idiomatisk), < NL. idio- 
maticus, < Gr. iStufiariK6(, peculiar, characteris- 
tic, < ioiu/ia(T-), a peculiarity, idiom: see idi- 
om.] 1. Peculiar to or characteristic of a cer- 
tain language ; pertaining to or^exhibiting the 
particular cast of a language or its charac- 
teristic modes of expression. 2. Given to or 
marked by the use of idioms: as, an idiomatic 
writer. 
Now, there is not in the world so certain a guarantee 
for pure idiomatic diction, without tricks or affectation, 
as a case of genuine excitement. De Quincey, Style, i. 
Like most idiomatic as distinguished from correct writ- 
ers, he IDrydenj knew very little about the language his- 
torically or critically. 
Lowell, Among my Books, 1st ser., p. 76. 
idiomatical (id"i-o-mat'i-kal), a. [< idiomatic 
+ -al.] idiomatic. 
Milton mistakes the idiomatical use and meaning of 
"munditiic." 
'/'. H'artun, Milton's Smaller Poems, Horace, L 5. 
His enthusiastic mode of thinking, and his foreign and 
idiomatical manner of expressing himself, often excited 
a smile on the grave cheek of the count. 
Scott, Quentin Durward, xxv. 
idiomatically (id"i-o-mat'i-kal-i), adv. In an 
idiomatic manner ; according'to the idiom of a 
language. 
idiomorphic (id*i-o-m6r'fik), a. [< Gr. !<f<of, 
one's own, + /loppf, form.] Having its own or 
characteristic form. This term was introduced into 
lithology by Rosenbusch, to indicate that a mineral form- 
ing part of a rock-mass has the crystalline faces which 
belong to it as a species, and that it has not been forced 
by the other minerals with which it is associated to take 
their form more or less completely. 
The normal Plutonic rocks are characterized by a struc- 
ture in which idiomorphic constituents occur only in 
small proportion. Geol. Mag., 3d dec., IV. 128. 
idiomorphically (id"i-o-m6r'fi-kal-i), adv. In 
an idiomorphic manner. 
AH of the constituents are idiomorphicalbi developed. 
Amur. Naturalist, XXII. 209. 
idiomuscular (id'i-o-mus'ku-lar), a. [X Gr. 
i6u>c, peculiar, _-h E. 'muscular.] Pertaining to 
muscle exclusively. Idiomuscular contraction, 
the contraction of muscular fibers when struck. The lo- 
cal wheal which appears at the point struck, and usually 
remains there, but sometimes divides and travels off in 
either direction as a sluggish wave, is called the local, and 
the contraction of the entire band of fibers to the ends of 
the muscle the general idiomu*cttlar contraction. 
idiopathetic (id"i-o-pa-thet'ik), a. [< idiopa- 
tlnj, after pathetic, q. v.] Same as MiopatJnc. 
idiopathetically (id'i-o-pa-thet'i-kal-i), adv. 
Same as idiopathieally. 
idiopathic (id " i - o - path ' ik), a. [< idiopa tli-tj 
+ -ic.] In pathol.', of or pertaining to a primary 
morbid state ; not secondary or arising from any 
other disease: as, an idiojiatliic affection: op- 
posed to symptomatic Idiopathic anemia, fever, 
etc. See the nouns. 
idippathical (id"i-o-path'i-kal), a. Same as 
idiopa tli ic. 
idiosyncrasy 
idiopathically (id"i-o-path'i-kal-i), adv. In the 
manner of an idiopathic disease; not sympto- 
matically. 
idiopathy (id-i-op'a-thi), .; pi. iiliopatJiies 
(-thiz). [= F. idiopathic Sp. idiopatia = Pg. 
idiopathia = It. idiopatin, < Gr. i6io-af)cia, feeling 
for oneself alone, < idioxattfa, affected foroneself 
in a peculiar way, < i6tof, one's own (see 'idiom), 
+ iTattuf, feeling, affection.] 1. lupatliol., an 
idiopathic character of disease ; a morbid state 
or condition not preceded and occasioned by 
any other disease. 2f. An individual or per- 
sonal state of feeling; a mental condition pe- 
culiar to one's self. 
Men are so full of their own fancies and idiopathies that 
they scarce have the civility to interchange any words 
with a stranger. Dr. U. More, Beychathanasia, 1'ref. 
idiophanism (id-i-of'a-nizm), n. [< idiopha- 
n-ous + -ism.] The property of being idiopha- 
nous. 
idiophanous (id-i-of'a-nus), a. [< Gr. I6wf, 
peculiar, + -0aw?f, < ^aivca6ai, appear.] Ex- 
hibiting axial interference figures without the 
use of polarizing apparatus: said of certain 
crystals, as epidote. These figures are some- 
times called epoptic figures. Also idiocyclopha- 
nous. 
Idiophyllum (id"i-o-fil'um), n. [NL., < Gr. 
loiof, peculiar, + di>//oi>, leaf.] A genus of fos- 
sil ferns established by Lesquereux, based on 
a small round or broadly obovate leaf found 
at Mazon Creek, Illinois, in the lowest strata of 
the middle coal-measures. This leaf by its peculiar 
areolation is closely related to Dietyophyllutn, but differs 
from it in not having the pinnate character which the leaves 
of all the species referred to that genus have. 
idioplasm (id'i-o-plazm), n. [< NL. idioplasma, 
< Gr. i(5<of , one's'o wn, + x^da/ia, a thing formed : 
see plasma.] Same as germ-plasma. 
The chromatin must carry the hereditary characters, and 
therefore has been termed the idioplaitm. 
Amer. Jour. Pfychol., I. 543. 
idioplasma (id'i-o-plaz'mS), n. [NL.] Same 
as germ-plasma. 
idio'psychological (id"i-o-si-ko-loj'i-kal), a. [< 
Gr. l&of, one's own, + E. psychological.] Of or 
pertaining to one's own mind. 
The psychological method . . . may be divided into two 
heads, according as we seek to develop moral science by 
the interpretation of the conscience itself, or by tracing 
the development of the moral out of the non-moral in the 
study of psychological facts outside of the conscience. 
*' Idiopaycholoyical " and * 4 heteropsychological " are the 
epithets employed to denote these two methods. 
P. L. Patton, New Princeton Rev., I. 181. 
idiorepulsive (id'i-6-re-pul'siv), . [< Gr. 
i<5(0f, one's own, + E. repulsive.] Repelling 
itself. 
The early theories regarded [electrical] phenomena as 
produced either by a single fluid, idio-repitltioe, but at- 
tractive of all matter, or else as produced by two fluids, 
each idio-repulsive, but attractive of the other. 
W. It. Grove, Corr. of Forces, p. 83. 
idiorrhythmic (id'i-o-rith'mik), a. [< Gr. TAiof, 
one's own, + />i0/t6f, rhythm.] Self-regulated ; 
consisting of self-governing members : an epi- 
thet of those convents of the Greek Church in 
which each member of the community is left 
to regulate his own manner of life. Also writ- 
ten idiorhythmic. 
In an idiorrttythmic monastery each monk lives as he 
pleases ; if rich he has a suite of apartments, if poor he 
shares a cell with a brother. Discipline is kept up by pub- 
lic opinion rather than by authority ; a monk is not bound 
to attend vespers, but if he omitted to do so two days run- 
ning without valid excuse his brethren would begin to 
talk about his laxity and show signs of disapproval. In- 
stead of an abbot an idiorrhythmic convent is governed by 
a deliberative assembly and two or three annually elected 
presidents. Athelstan liilcy, Athos, or the Mountain of the 
[Monks (1867), p. 66. 
idiostatic (id"i-o-stat'ik), a. [< Gr. I6iof, one's 
own, + arttTiKOf, static: see static.] Pertain- 
ing to a mode of measurement of electri- 
city in which no auxiliary electrification is em- 
ployed. 
The accessory electrometer or gauge is called an idio- 
static electrometer. 
J. E. B. Gordon, Elect, and Mag., I. 66. 
idiosyncrasy (id'i-o-sin'kra-si), n.; pi. idioxyn- 
crasies (-siz). [= F. idiosyncrasie = Sp. It. idio- 
sii>crasia = Pg.idiosyucrasiti, < Gr. 'litoavfiyxuita, 
also idioniyKpaaif, a peculiar temperament or 
habit of body, < i<!<of, one's own, peculiar, + 
ai'-)Kpaaif, a mixture, tempering, < cvynrpavvi'vai, 
mix with, < aiv, with, + Kpawii>ai, mix. > xpaaif, 
a mixing: see crasis.] A peculiarity of mental 
or physical constitution or temperament ; char- 
acteristic susceptibility or antipathy inherent 
in an individual ; special mental disposition or 
tendency. 
