habit Meaning, Definition & Usage

  1. noun an established custom
    wont.
    • it was their habit to dine at 7 every evening
  2. noun (psychology) an automatic pattern of behavior in reaction to a specific situation; may be inherited or acquired through frequent repetition
    use.
    • owls have nocturnal habits
    • she had a habit twirling the ends of her hair
    • long use had hardened him to it
  3. noun a distinctive attire worn by a member of a religious order
  4. noun the general form or mode of growth (especially of a plant or crystal)
    • a shrub of spreading habit
  5. noun attire that is typically worn by a horseback rider (especially a woman's attire)
    riding habit.
  6. noun excessive use of drugs
    substance abuse; drug abuse.
  7. verb put a habit on

WordNet

Hab"it noun
Etymology
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.
Definitions
  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. -- 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 transitive verb
Etymology
OE. habiten to dwell, F. habiter, fr. L. habitare to have frequently, to dwell, intens. fr. habere to have. See Habit, n.
Wordforms
imperfect & past participle Habited; present participle & verbal noun Habiting
Definitions
  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.

Webster 1913