idio-comb. form

Etymology: < ancient Greek ἰδιο-, combining form (in e.g. ἰδιογενής mating only with its kind) of ἴδιος own, personal, private, peculiar, separate, distinct, probably < the base of ἕ him (compare ancient Greek (Pamphylian) ϝhε ) + inserted -δ- + -ιος , suffix forming adjectives (a derivative may be seen in ancient Greek (Argive) ϝhεδιέστας ordinary citizen); compare -o- connective. Compare French idio- (formations in which are found from at least the late 18th cent.), scientific Latin idio- (formations in which are found from at least the early 19th cent.), German idio- (formations in which are found from at least the second half of the 19th cent.).Attested earliest at the beginning of the 17th cent. in idiosyncrasy n., and subsequently in idiopathy n. (first half of the 17th cent.) and idiocrasy n. (second half of the 17th cent.), all loans < Greek (in the case of idiosyncrasy n. and idiopathy n. via Latin, French, or both of these). Formations within English are attested from the first half of the 17th cent. (apparently earliest in idiolatry n. and idiograph n.), but only become more numerous in the 19th cent. Chiefly combining with second elements ultimately of Greek origin, but also occasionally combining with second elements ultimately of Latin origin, as idiomuscular adj. , idiorepulsive adj. In forms in ideo- by confusion with words in ideo- comb. form.