Ĭd'i-om, n.
n. [Fr. idiome, It., Sp., & Lat. idioma, Gr. ἰδίωμα, from ἴδιον, to make a person's own, to make proper or peculiar, from ἴδιος, proper, peculiar.]
Sense 1. A peculiar mode of expression; a phrase stamped by the usage of a language, or sometimes of an author, with another than its grammatical meaning.
Sometimes we identify the words with the object—though by courtesy of idiom rather than in strict propriety of language. Coleridge.
Every good writer has much idiom. Landor.
Sense 2. The genius or peculiar cast of a language.
He followed their language, but did not comply with the idiom of ours. Dryden.
Sense 3. Dialect; peculiar form or variety of language.
Synonyms—Dialect.—IDIOM, DIALECT. The idioms of a language belong to its very structure; its dialects are varieties of expression ingrafted upon it in different localities or by different professions. Each county of England has some peculiarities of dialect, and so have most of the professions, while the great idioms of the language are every where the same. See LANGUAGE.
Some that with care true eloquence shall teach, And to just idioms fix our doubtful speech. Prior.
Then all those Who in the dark our fury did escape, Returning, know our borrowed arms and shape, And different dialect. Denham.