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habit

habit [ hábbit ]

noun (plural habits)

Definition:

1. regularly repeated behaviour pattern: an action or pattern of behaviour that is repeated so often that it becomes typical of somebody, although he or she may be unaware of it

I really need to get into the habit of writing down what I spend.

the annoying habit of finishing someone else's sentences

2. attitude: somebody's attitude or general disposition

3. addiction: an addiction to a drug ( slang )

4. clothing of religious order: a long loose gown, usually black, brown, grey, or white, traditionally worn by nuns, friars, and monks

5. riding dress
Same as riding habit

6. botany zoology growth pattern: the characteristic appearance, behaviour, or growth pattern of a plant or animal

7. shape of crystal: the characteristic growth pattern or shape of a crystal

transitive verb (3rd person present singular habits, present participle habiting, past and past participle habited)

Definition:

clothe somebody specially: to dress somebody in clothing distinctive to a particular position or office ( literary )

[12th century Via French< Latin habitus< habere 'have, wear']

kick the habit to become free of an addiction, or stop doing something that has been a long-standing practice (informal)

Word History


	The Latin word habere from which habit is derived was used reflexively to mean 'to be', and so its past participle habitus came to be used as a noun for 'how you are', that is, your 'state' or 'condition'. Subsequently this noun developed in two directions, coming to mean both 'outward condition or appearance', hence, eventually, 'clothing', and 'inner condition, quality, nature, character', and later 'usual way of behaving'. (The notion of adapting a verb meaning 'to have' to express 'how you are, how you act in particular situations' is duplicated in the English word 'behave').

Word Key: Synonyms


	habit, custom, tradition, practice, routine, wont CORE MEANING: established pattern of behaviour habit an action or pattern of behaviour that is repeated so often that it becomes typical of somebody, although he or she may be unaware of it; She had an irritating habit of phoning just as we were about to eat. custom the way somebody usually or traditionally behaves in a situation; It was his custom to walk three miles a day for health reasons. The custom is for someone to give a short speech of thanks after the meal. He wrote a book on local customs after he retired. tradition a long-established action or pattern of behaviour in a community or group of people, often one that has been handed down from generation to generation; They maintain the old local tradition of decorating the wells in spring. practice an established way of doing something, especially one that has developed through experience and knowledge; routine the usual sequence for a set of activities, sometimes with the suggestion that this is monotonous and tedious; The visit was clearly going to disrupt our daily routine. Life settled into a routine of writing in the mornings and long walks in the afternoons. wont (formal) something that somebody does regularly or habitually; I went to the library on Thursday, as is my wont.

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