'Habit' definitions:

Definition of 'habit'

(from WordNet)
noun
An established custom; "it was their habit to dine at 7 every evening" [syn: habit, wont]
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" [syn: habit, use]
noun
A distinctive attire worn by a member of a religious order
noun
The general form or mode of growth (especially of a plant or crystal); "a shrub of spreading habit"
noun
Attire that is typically worn by a horseback rider (especially a woman's attire) [syn: habit, riding habit]
noun
Excessive use of drugs [syn: substance abuse, drug abuse, habit]
verb
Put a habit on

Definition of 'Habit'

From: GCIDE
  • Habit \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.] [1913 Webster]
  • In thilke places as they [birds] habiten. --Rom. of R. [1913 Webster]
  • 2. To dress; to clothe; to array. [1913 Webster]
  • They habited themselves like those rural deities. --Dryden. [1913 Webster]
  • 3. To accustom; to habituate. [Obs.] --Chapman. [1913 Webster]

Definition of 'Habit'

From: GCIDE
  • Habit \Hab"it\ (h[a^]b"[i^]t) n. [OE. habit, abit, F. 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. [1913 Webster]
  • 2. (Biol.) The general appearance and manner of life of a living organism. Specifically, the tendency of a plant or animal to grow in a certain way; as, the deciduous habit of certain trees. [1913 Webster +PJC]
  • 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. [1913 Webster]
  • A man of very shy, retired habits. --W. Irving. [1913 Webster]
  • 4. Outward appearance; attire; dress; hence, a garment; esp., a closely fitting garment or dress worn by ladies; as, a riding habit. [1913 Webster]
  • Costly thy habit as thy purse can buy. --Shak. [1913 Webster]
  • There are, among the statues, several of Venus, in different habits. --Addison.
  • 5. Hence: The distinctive clothing worn commonly by nuns or monks; as, in the late 1900's many orders of nuns discarded their habits and began to dress as ordinary lay women. [PJC]
  • 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. [1913 Webster]
  • How use doth breed a habit in a man! --Shak. [1913 Webster]
  • He who reigns . . . upheld by old repute, Consent, or custom --Milton. [1913 Webster]

Synonyms of 'habit'

From: Moby Thesaurus

Words containing 'Habit'