habituate

American  

[huh-bich-oo-eyt] / həˈbɪtʃ uˌeɪt /

verb (used with object)

habituated, habituating

1. to accustom (a person, the mind, etc.), as to a particular situation.

   Wealth habituated him to luxury.

   Synonyms:

   train, acclimate, familiarize

2. Archaic. to frequent.

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verb (used without object)

habituated, habituating

1. to cause habituation, physiologically or psychologically.

habituate British  

/ həˈbɪtjʊˌeɪt /

verb

1. to accustom; make used (to)

2. archaic to frequent

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Other Word Forms

• unhabituated
  adjective

Etymology

Origin of habituate

1520–30; < Late Latin habituātus conditioned, constituted, (past participle of habituāre ), equivalent to habitu ( s ) habit ¹ + -ātus -ate ¹

Explanation

When you habituate something, you're helping it to get accustomed to a new home. Workers in zoos spend a lot of time habituating animals. The word "habit" in habituate is a clue to its meaning — by habituating, you're helping a creature or person get used to new surroundings and establish new habits, especially in a new habitat (home). If your dog spends the night with a friend, you might bring some of his toys to habituate him and make him feel comfortable. It takes a lot of time for a new cat to be habituated to a home. When you habituate something, you're helping it feel comfortable and accustomed to a new place.

Example Sentences

Habituate yourself to useful employment, regular improvement, and to the benefit of all those around your.

From Recollections and Letters of General Robert E. Lee by Lee, Robert Edward, General

Habituate Venetia to talk of a spot with which ultimately she must renew her intimacy.'

From Venetia by Disraeli, Benjamin, Earl of Beaconsfield

Habituate your children to the thought that some day they may have to suffer, to struggle and perhaps to die in the defense of their rights.

From The Iron Pincers or Mylio and Karvel A Tale of the Albigensian Crusades by Sue, Eugène

Related Words

• accustom