idiorrhythmic

adjective

id·​i·​or·​rhythmic

¦idēə+

Eastern Church

: self-regulating

—used of (1) monks that live separately, hold property, work individually in supporting themselves, and though members of a monastery supervised by an elected council are not under direct daily supervision or (2) of monasteries so organized

Word History

Etymology

Late Greek idiorrhythmos (from Greek idio- + rhythmos measured motion, measure, proportion) + English -ic

First Known Use

1862, in the meaning defined above

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