aberration
Meanings
noun
- The act of wandering; deviation from truth, moral rectitude; abnormal; divergence from the straight, correct, proper, normal, or from the natural state.
- 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.
- A small periodical change of the apparent positions of the stars and other heavenly bodies, due to the combined effect of the motion of light and the motion of the observer.
- The tendency of light rays to preferentially strike the leading face of a moving object (the effect underlying the above phenomenon).
- A partial alienation of reason.
- Any creature with supernatural powers not found in the organized classes of beings in a given setting.
- A mental disorder, especially one of a minor or temporary character.
- Atypical development or structure; deviation from the normal type; an aberrant organ.
- A deviation of a tissue, organ or mental functions from what is considered to be within the normal range.
- A defect in an image produced by an optical or electrostatic lens system.
Pronunciation
Word forms
Etymology
A learned borrowing from Latin aberrātiō(n) (“relief, diversion”), first attested in 1594, from aberrō (“wander away, go astray”), from ab (“away”) + errō (“wander”). Compare French aberration. By surface analysis, aberrat(e) + -ion.
Derived words
Translations
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