habit

¹

[ hab-it ]

noun

1. an acquired behavior pattern regularly followed until it has become almost involuntary:

   the habit of looking both ways before crossing the street.

2. customary practice or use:

   Daily bathing is an American habit.

   Synonyms: wont, bent

3. a particular practice, custom, or usage:

   the habit of shaking hands.

4. a dominant or regular disposition or tendency; prevailing character or quality:

   She has a habit of looking at the bright side of things.

5. Often the habit. addiction, especially to narcotics.
6. mental character or disposition:

   a habit of mind.

7. characteristic bodily or physical condition.
8. the characteristic form, aspect, mode of growth, etc., of an organism:

   a twining habit.

9. the characteristic crystalline form of a mineral.
10. garb of a particular rank, profession, religious order, etc.:

    a monk's habit.

    Synonyms: costume, dress

11. the attire worn by a rider of a saddle horse.

verb (used with object)

1. to clothe; array.

   Synonyms: deck out, attire, garb, dress

habit

²

[ hab-it ]

verb (used with object)

1. Archaic. to dwell in.

verb (used without object)

1. Obsolete. to dwell.

habit

/ ˈhæbɪt /

noun

1. a tendency or disposition to act in a particular way
2. established custom, usual practice, etc
3. psychol a learned behavioural response that has become associated with a particular situation, esp one frequently repeated
4. mental disposition or attitude

   a good working habit of mind

5. 1. a practice or substance to which a person is addicted

      drink has become a habit with him

   2. the state of being dependent on something, esp a drug
6. botany zoology the method of growth, type of existence, behaviour, or general appearance of a plant or animal

   a burrowing habit

   a climbing habit

7. the customary apparel of a particular occupation, rank, etc, now esp the costume of a nun or monk
8. Also calledriding habit a woman's riding dress
9. crystallog short for crystal habit

verb

1. to clothe
2. an archaic word for inhabit habituate

habit

/ hăb′ĭt /

1. The characteristic shape of a crystal, such as the cubic habit that is characteristic of pyrite.
2. The characteristic manner of growth of a plant. For example, grape plants and ivy display a vining habit.

Word History and Origins

Origin of habit¹

First recorded in 1175–1225; Middle English, from Latin habitus “state, style, practice,” equivalent to habi- (variant stem of habēre “to have”) + -tus verbal noun suffix; replacing Middle English abit, from Old French

Origin of habit²

First recorded in 1325–75; Middle English habiten from Old French (h)abiter, from Latin habitāre “to wear habitually; inhabit; habitat

Word History and Origins

Origin of habit¹

C13: from Latin habitus custom, from habēre to have

Idioms and Phrases

Idioms

1. old habits die hard. old habits die hard.

More idioms and phrases containing habit

see kick a habit .

Synonym Study

See custom.

Related Words

• custom
• manner
• mode
• nature
• obsession
• pattern
• quirk
• routine
• style
• thing
• usage