First attested in 1594, from Latin _aberrātiō_ (“relief, diversion”) , from _aberrō_ (“wander away, go astray”), from _ab_ (“away”) + _errō_ (“wander”). Compare French _aberration_. See also _aberrate_.

* (US) IPA(key): /ˌæb.əˈreɪ.ʃn̩/

ABERRATION (_plural_ ABERRATIONS) * The act of wandering; deviation from truth, moral rectitude; abnormal; divergence from the straight, correct, proper, normal, or from the natural state. [Late 16th century.] _the ABERRATION of youth_, _ABERRATIONS from theory_, _ABERRATION of character_ * (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 18th century.] * (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 18th century.] * A partial alienation of reason. [Early 19th century.] * Lingard: Occasional ABERRATIONS of intellect. * I. Taylor: Whims, which at first are the ABERRATIONS of a single brain, pass with heat into epidemic form. * A mental disorder, especially one of a minor or temporary character. [Early 19th century.] * (zoology, botany) Atypical development or structure; deviation from the normal type; an aberrant organ. [Mid 19th century.] * (medicine) A deviation of a tissue, organ or mental functions from what is considered to be within the normal range. DERIVED TERMS * spherical aberration * aberrational TRANSLATIONS

* ^ Aberration at Dictionary.com * ^ Elliott K. Dobbie, C. William Dunmore, Robert K. Barnhart, et al. (editors), _Chambers Dictionary of Etymology_ (Chambers Harrap Publishers Ltd, 2004 [1998], ISBN 0550142304), page 2 * ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 3.5 Lesley Brown (editor), _The Shorter Oxford English Dictionary_, 5th edition (Oxford University Press, 2003 [1933], ISBN 978-0-19-860575-7), page 4

ABERRATION f (_plural_ ABERRATIONS) * Something, such as an idea or fact, that is aberrant; an aberration. * The state of being aberrant. * (astronomy) An aberration. * (optics) An aberration. * (physiology) An aberration or mutation.

* abornerait * arboraient

* “aberration” in _le Trésor de la langue française informatisé_ (_The Digitized Treasury of the French Language_).