What is the difference between idiosyncrasy and foible?
idiosyncrasy | foible | Synonyms |
A behavior or way of thinking that is characteristic of a person.
A language or behaviour that is particular to an individual or group.
(medicine) A peculiar individual reaction to a generally innocuous substance or factor.
A peculiarity that serves to distinguish or identify.
A quirk, idiosyncrasy, or mannerism; unusual habit or way (usage is typically plural), that is slightly strange or silly.
* 1915 ,
* 1959 , Meriden Record, "
(fencing) Part of a sword between the middle and the point, weaker than the forte.
A weakness or failing of character.
* 1932 , , by William Floyd
Foible is a synonym of idiosyncrasy.
As nouns the difference between idiosyncrasy and foible
is that idiosyncrasy is a behavior or way of thinking that is characteristic of a person while foible is a quirk, idiosyncrasy, or mannerism; unusual habit or way (usage is typically plural), that is slightly strange or silly.As an adjective foible is
weak; feeble.idiosyncrasy
English
(wikipedia idiosyncrasy)Noun
(idiosyncrasies)- He mastered the idiosyncrasies of English spelling.
Synonyms
* eccentricity * foible * habit * mannerism * oddity * quirk * vagaryDerived terms
(derived terms) * idiosyncratic * idiosyncraticallySee also
* eccentricity * habit * peculiarity * speciality * specialness * specialty * traitReferences
* *foible
English
Noun
(en noun)- Try to look past his foibles and see the friendly fellow underneath.
- They made up for the respect with which unconsciously they treated him by laughing at his foibles and lamenting his vices.
An ounce of prevention", July 24 issue
- Final fillip in the Vice-President's study has been a boning up]] on Premier Khrushchev's favorite foible , proverbs. The bibulous Russian leader likes to throw out homely [[homily, homilies in his speeches and conversations..
- Jesus is reverenced as the one man who has lived unspotted by the world, free from human foibles , able to redeem mankind by his example.
