- The act of wandering; deviation, especially from truth
or moral rectitude, from the natural state, or from a type. - A partial alienation of reason. - 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. - 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. - The passage of blood or other fluid into parts not
appropriate for it. - The producing of an unintended effect by the glancing
of an instrument, as when a shot intended for A glances and strikes B.
Definition
[ n.]