peculiarity n
1. an odd or unusual characteristic [syn: distinctive feature, distinguishing characteristic]
2. a distinguishing trait [syn: specialness, specialty, speciality, distinctiveness]
3. something unusual -- perhaps worthy of collecting [syn: curio, curiosity, oddity, oddment, rarity]

Peculiarity \Pe*cul`iar"i*ty\, n.; pl. Peculiarities.
1. The quality or state of being peculiar; individuality; singularity. --Swift.
2. That which is peculiar; a special and distinctive characteristic or habit; particularity. The smallest peculiarity of temper on manner. --Macaulay.
3. Exclusive possession or right. [Obs.] --Bp. Hall.

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Idiosyncrasy, from Ancient Greek ἰδιοσυγκρασία, idiosynkrasía, "a peculiar temperament", "habit of body" (ἴδιος, idios "one's own", σύν, syn "with" and κρᾶσις krasis "mixture") is defined as an individualizing quality or characteristic of a person or group, and is often used to express eccentricity or peculiarity. The term can also be applied to symbols. Idiosyncratic symbols mean one thing for a particular person, as a blade could mean war, but to someone else, it could symbolize a surgery. By the same principle, linguists (such as Ferdinand de Saussure) state that words are not only arbitrary, but also largely idiosyncratic signs.

Idiosyncrasy defined the way physicians conceived diseases in the 19th century. They considered each disease as a unique condition, related to each patient. This understanding began to change in the 1870s, when discoveries made by researchers in Europe permitted the advent of a 'scientific medicine', a precursor to the Evidence-Based Medicine that is the standard of practice today.

• Arizona border agents find cocaine in man's wheelchair seat - Arizona Daily Star
  The 43-year-old Mexican man was crossing at the Dennis DeConcini Port when a Customs and Border Protection officer noticed a “peculiarity” in seat cushion, the agency said in a news release. During a follow-up inspection officers found packages of ... Read more on this news related to 'Peculiarity'
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  There's little mistaking the latter, though. In its simplicity, borderline childlikeness, and unblinking, nearly subliminal peculiarity, the chorus is like a disconcerting "Ring Around the Rosie." Rickman's vibrato in the line "Where's your mother?" Read more on this news related to 'Peculiarity'
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  "Maybe the color is just easily washed out and has no particular function. However, for now, this peculiarity of the new species remains enigmatic." Read more on this news related to 'Peculiarity'