HABIT

habit, use

(noun) (psychology) an automatic pattern of behavior in reaction to a specific situation; may be inherited or acquired through frequent repetition; “owls have nocturnal habits”; “she had a habit twirling the ends of her hair”; “long use had hardened him to it”

habit

(noun) a distinctive attire worn by a member of a religious order

habit, riding habit

(noun) attire that is typically worn by a horseback rider (especially a woman’s attire)

habit, wont

(noun) an established custom; “it was their habit to dine at 7 every evening”

habit

(noun) the general form or mode of growth (especially of a plant or crystal); “a shrub of spreading habit”

habit

(verb) put a habit on

Source: WordNet® 3.1

Etymology 1

Noun

habit (countable and uncountable, plural habits)

An action performed on a regular basis.

Synonym: wont

An action performed repeatedly and automatically, usually without awareness.

A long piece of clothing worn by monks and nuns.

A piece of clothing worn uniformly for a specific activity.

(archaic) Outward appearance; attire; dress.

(botany, mineralogy) Form of growth or general appearance of a variety or species of plant or crystal.

An addiction.

Etymology 2

Verb

habit (third-person singular simple present habits, present participle habiting, simple past and past participle habited)

(transitive) To clothe.

(transitive, archaic) To inhabit.

Source: Wiktionary

Hab"it n. Etym: [OE. habit, abit fr. habit fr. L. habitus state, appearance, dress, fr. habere to have, be in a condition; prob. akin to E. have. See Have, and cf. Able, Binnacle, Debt, Due, Exhibit, Malady.]

1. The usual condition or state of a person or thing, either natural or acquired, regarded as something had, possessed, and firmly retained; as, a religious habit; his habit is morose; elms have a spreading habit; esp., physical temperament or constitution; as, a full habit of body.

2. (Biol.)

Definition: The general appearance and manner of life of a living organism.

3. Fixed or established custom; ordinary course of conduct; practice; usage; hence, prominently, the involuntary tendency or aptitude to perform certain actions which is acquired by their frequent repetition; as, habit is second nature; also, peculiar ways of acting; characteristic forms of behavior. A man of very shy, retired habits. W. Irving.

4. Outward appearance; attire; dress; hence, a garment; esp., a closely fitting garment or dress worn by ladies; as, a riding habit. Costly thy habit as thy purse can buy. Shak. There are, among the states, several of Venus, in different habits. Addison.

Syn.

– Practice; mode; manner; way; custom; fashion.

– Habit, Custom. Habit is a disposition or tendency leading us to do easily, naturally, and with growing certainty, what we do often; custom is external, being habitual use or the frequent repetition of the same act. The two operate reciprocally on each other. The custom of giving produces a habit of liberality; habits of devotion promote the custom of going to church. Custom also supposes an act of the will, selecting given modes of procedure; habit is a law of our being, a kind of "second nature" which grows up within us. How use doth breed a habit in a man ! Shak. He who reigns . . . upheld by old repute, Consent, or custom. Milton.

Hab"it, v. t. [ Habited; p. pr. & vb. n. Habiting.] Etym: [OE. habiten to dwell, F. habiter, fr. L. habitare to have frequently, to dwell, intens. fr. habere to have. See Habit, n.]

1. To inhabit. [Obs.] In thilke places as they [birds] habiten. Rom. of R.

2. To dress; to clothe; to array. They habited themselves lite those rural deities. Dryden.

3. To accustom; to habituate. [Obs.] Chapman.

Source: Webster’s Unabridged Dictionary 1913 Edition

HABIT

Etymology 1

Noun

Etymology 2

Verb

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