A deformity , dysmorphism , or dysmorphic feature is a major abnormality of an organism that makes a part of the body appear or function differently than how it is supposed to.
6-430: A freak is a person who is physically deformed or transformed due to an extraordinary medical condition or body modification . This definition was first attested with this meaning in the 1880s as a shorter form of the phrase " freak of nature ", itself a broader term meaning " whimsy or caprice of nature", attributed at least as far back as 1847. The term's original neutral connotation became entirely negative during
12-521: A range of complications including missing or non-functioning vital organs, structural defects that prevent necessary function, high susceptibility to injuries, abnormal facial appearance, or infections that eventually lead to death. In some cases, such as that of twins , one fetus is brought to term healthy, while the other faces major, even life-threatening defects. An example of this is seen in cattle, referred to as amorphous globosus . There are many instances of mythological characters showing signs of
18-405: Is something strikingly unusual about one's appearance or behavior. This usage originated from " freak scene " during the 1960s and 1970s, most famously promoted by the album Freak Out! made by the rock band The Mothers of Invention . A recent usage of freak is as a synonym for enthusiast , such as a health freak ; or referring to obsessive behavior, such as control freak . Freak
24-404: Is used in science to describe plants and animals with a genetic mutation . Deformity Deformity can be caused by a variety of factors: Deformity can occur in all organisms: In many cases where a major deformity is present at birth, it is the result of an underlying condition severe enough that the baby does not survive very long. The mortality of severely deformed births may be due to
30-436: The 20th century; therefore, freak with its literal meaning of "abnormally developed individual" is viewed purely as a pejorative today. However, the term is also recently used playfully to refer to an enthusiast or obsessive person. Freak saw usage as jargon by promoters and performers of freak shows , though its use in this sense has decreased along with the popularity of freak shows. One well-known example of this word
36-408: Was in reference to Joseph Merrick , the "Elephant Man." As a jargon, side-show freaks were classified into two groups: natural freaks and self-made freaks. A natural freak would usually have been born with a genetic abnormality , while a self-made freak was a person who was altered artificially (with methods such as surgical implants ). The term has a variety of much more recent meanings. An example
#69930