Definitions for: Habit


[n] a pattern of behavior acquired through frequent repetition; "she had a habit twirling the ends of her hair"; "long use had hardened him to it"
[n] excessive use of drugs
[n] a distinctive attire (as the costume of a religious order)
[n] an established custom; "it was their habit to dine at 7 every evening"
[v] put a habit on



Webster (1913) Definition: Hab"itn. [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.) 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.

Usage: 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 (h[a^]b"[i^]t), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Habited; p.
pr. & vb. n. Habiting.] [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.

Synonyms: drug abuse, substance abuse, use, wont, wont

See Also: abuse, alcohol abuse, alcoholic abuse, alcoholism abuse, apparel, attire, cleanliness, clothe, custom, custom, dress, dress, enclothe, fit out, garb, garb, garment, habilitate, misuse, monastic habit, raiment, riding habit, ritual, second nature, tog, tradition, uncleanliness, usage, usance

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