different between aberration vs monomania

English

Etymology

A learned borrowing from Latin aberr?ti? (“relief, diversion”), first attested in 1594 , from aberr? (“wander away, go astray”), from ab (“away”) + err? (“wander”). Compare French aberration. Equivalent to aberrate +? -ion.

Pronunciation

• (US) IPA^(key): /?æb.???e?.?n?/

Noun

aberration (countable and uncountable, plural aberrations)

1. The act of wandering; deviation from truth, moral rectitude; abnormal; divergence from the straight, correct, proper, normal, or from the natural state. [Late 16^th century.]
2. (optics) The convergence to different foci, by a lens or mirror, of rays of light emanating from one and the same point, or the deviation of such rays from a single focus; a defect in a focusing mechanism that prevents the intended focal point. [Mid 18^th century.]
3. (astronomy) A small periodical change of position in the stars and other heavenly bodies, due to the combined effect of the motion of light and the motion of the observer. [Mid 18^th century.]
   1. (astronomy, by extension) The tendency of light rays to preferentially strike the leading face of a moving object (the effect underlying the above phenomenon).
4. A partial alienation of reason. [Early 19^th century.]
5. A mental disorder, especially one of a minor or temporary character. [Early 19^th century.]
6. (zoology, botany) Atypical development or structure; deviation from the normal type; an aberrant organ. [Mid 19^th century.]
7. (medicine) A deviation of a tissue, organ or mental functions from what is considered to be within the normal range.

Derived terms

Related terms

Translations

References

French

Etymology

From Latin aberrationem, aberratio.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /a.b?.?a.sj??/

Noun

aberration f (plural aberrations)

1. aberration
2. the state of being aberrant
3. (astronomy) aberration
4. (optics) aberration
5. (physiology) aberration or mutation

Related terms

• aberrer

Further reading

• “aberration” in Trésor de la langue française informatisé (The Digitized Treasury of the French Language).

Anagrams

• abornerait, arboraient

English

Etymology

Either:

• Formed in English as mono- +? mania;
• From the French monomanie; or,
• From the Modern Latin monomania.

Pronunciation

• (Received Pronunciation) IPA^(key): /?m?n???me?n??/
• (US) IPA^(key): /?m?no??me?ni.?/
• Rhymes: -e?ni?

Noun

monomania (plural monomanias or monomaniæ)

1. Excessive interest or concentration on a singular object or subject.

   It was apparent to all but himself that what was once idle curiosity had become a monomania.

2. A pathological obsession with one person, thing or idea.

Quotations

• 1905 — Arthur Conan Doyle, The Adventure of the Six Napoleons

  "There are no limits to the possibilities of monomania," I answered. "There is the condition which the modern French psychologists have called the 'idee fixe,' which may be trifling in character, and accompanied by complete sanity in every other way. A man who had read deeply about Napoleon, or who had possibly received some hereditary family injury through the great war, might conceivably form such an 'idee fixe' and under its influence be capable of any fantastic outrage."

Related terms

• monomaniac

Translations

See also

• idee fixe
• obsession

Finnish

Etymology

mono- +? -mania

Noun

monomania

1. monomania

Declension

Anagrams

• monomaani

Italian

Etymology

From mono- +? -mania.

Noun

monomania f (plural monomanie)

1. monomania

Related terms

• monomane

Anagrams

• annoiammo