habitant

¹

[ hab-i-tuhnt ]

noun

1. an inhabitant.

habitant

²

[ hab-i-tuhnt; French a-bee-tahn ]

noun

, plural ha·bi·tants [hab, -i-t, uh, nts, a, -bee-, tahn].

1. a French settler in Canada or Louisiana, or a descendant of one, especially a farmer.
2. Canadian. a Canadian of French speech and culture, especially one residing in the province of Quebec.

habitant

/ ˈhæbɪtənt /

noun

1. a less common word for inhabitant
2. ˈhæbɪtəntabitɑ̃
   1. an early French settler in Canada or Louisiana, esp a small farmer
   2. a descendant of these settlers, esp a farmer

Word History and Origins

Origin of habitant¹

1480–90; < Latin habitant- (stem of habitāns ), present participle of habitāre to inhabit. See habitat, -ant

Origin of habitant²

1780–90; < French, present participle of habiter < Latin habitāre to inhabit

Example Sentences

At that name the church became still, and the dullest habitant listened intently.

From Project Gutenberg

Priest and seigneur, habitant and coureur-de-bois were one and all difficult to fit into accepted English ways.

From Project Gutenberg

The French habitant crossed himself, and the Saxon cursed his luck; and no one solved the mystery.

From Project Gutenberg

He met them at their convivial gatherings, he heard the chanson sung by voyageurs, and the "habitant" caught his fancy.

From Project Gutenberg

Cum copiis quas habitant per Tyrolensem ditionem incedenti occurrere et Alpium transitum impedire.

From Project Gutenberg