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The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 (gcide)

Aberration \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.
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2. A partial alienation of reason. "Occasional aberrations of
intellect." --Lingard.
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Whims, which at first are the aberrations of a
single brain, pass with heat into epidemic form.
--I. Taylor.
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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.
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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.
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5. (Physiol.) The passage of blood or other fluid into parts
not appropriate for it.
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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.
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Syn: Insanity; lunacy; madness; derangement; alienation;
mania; dementia; hallucination; illusion; delusion. See
{Insanity}.
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