Ab`er*ra"tion (&?;), n.
[L. aberratio: cf. F. aberration. See Aberrate.]
1. The act of wandering; deviation, especially from truth or moral rectitude, from the natural state, or from a type. "The aberration of youth." Hall.
"Aberrations from theory." Burke.
2. A partial alienation of reason. "Occasional aberrations of intellect."
Lingard.
Whims, which at first are
the aberrations of a single brain, pass with heat into epidemic form.
I.
Taylor.
3. (Astron.) 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; called annual aberration, when the observer's motion is that of the earth in its
orbit, and daily or diurnal aberration,
when of the
earth on its axis; amounting when greatest, in the former case, to 20.4'', and in the latter, to 0.3''. Planetary aberration is that due to the motion of
light and the motion of
the planet relative to the earth.
4. (Opt.) 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; called spherical
aberration, when due to the spherical form of the lens or mirror, such form giving different foci for central and marginal rays; and chromatic aberration, when due to different refrangibilities of
the colored rays of the spectrum, those of each color
having a distinct focus.
5. (Physiol.) The passage of blood or other fluid into parts not appropriate for it.
6. (Law) The producing of an unintended effect by the
glancing of an instrument, as when a shot intended for A glances and
strikes B.
Syn.
-- Insanity; lunacy; madness; derangement; alienation; mania; dementia; hallucination; illusion; delusion. See Insanity.
Hear it pronounced