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 climbing habit

   a burrowing habit

7. the customary apparel of a particular occupation, rank, etc, now esp the costume of a nun or monk

8. Also called: riding habit. a woman's riding dress

9. crystallog short for crystal habit

verb

1. to clothe

2. an archaic word for inhabit habituate

habit

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.

see kick a habit.

Synonym Study

See custom.

Example Sentences

Over the past few years, though, Americans have tempered their wine habit.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

He would maintain, decade after decade, that style “is nothing less than the writer’s habits of mind—it is not a kind of paint applied afterwards, but the very germ of the thing.”

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

TOKYO—Japanese savers are starting to invest again, breaking with a decadeslong habit thanks to a renewed government push to get households to put their money to work.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Amazon’s Prime membership, the largest paid subscription program in the world with at least 200 million users, has helped the company become an integral part of consumers’ shopping habits.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

The move reflects a shift in viewing habits, with music videos largely consumed on YouTube and social media rather than television.

Read more on BBC

Related Words

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