habit

¹hab·it

noun \ˈha-bət\

Definition of HABIT

1

archaic : clothing

2

a : a costume characteristic of a calling, rank, or function <a nun's habit> b : a costume worn for horseback riding

3

: manner of conducting oneself : bearing

4

: bodily appearance or makeup <a man of fleshy habit>

5

: the prevailing disposition or character of a person's thoughts and feelings : mental makeup

6

: a settled tendency or usual manner of behavior <her habit of taking a morning walk>

7

a : a behavior pattern acquired by frequent repetition or physiologic exposure that shows itself in regularity or increased facility of performance b : an acquired mode of behavior that has become nearly or completely involuntary <got up early from force of habit> c : addiction <a drug habit>

8

: characteristic mode of growth or occurrence <a grass similar to Indian corn in habit>

9

of a crystal : characteristic assemblage of forms at crystallization leading to a usual appearance : shape

Examples of HABIT

1. It was his habit to take a nap after dinner every evening.
2. It's important that parents teach their children good study habits.
3. He fell into some bad habits after graduating from college.
4. It's never easy to break a bad habit.
5. He still gets up early every day from habit.
6. She always closed the door softly out of habit.
7. He hasn't been able to kick his cocaine habit.

Origin of HABIT

Middle English, from Anglo-French, from Latin habitus condition, character, from habēre to have, hold — more at give

First Known Use: 13th century

Related to HABIT

Synonyms: custom, fashion, habitude, pattern, practice (also practise), ritual, second nature, trick, way, wont

Related Words: addiction; disposition; bent, inclination, proclivity, set, tendency, tenor, turn; bag, convention, form, mode, style; usage, use; deportment, manners, mores; drill, groove, jog trot, regime (also régime), regimen, rote, routine, rut; affectation, airs, pose; attribute, characteristic, mark, trait; eccentricity, kink, oddity, peculiarity, quirk, singularity, tic

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Synonym Discussion of HABIT

habit, practice, usage, custom, wont mean a way of acting fixed through repetition. habit implies a doing unconsciously and often compulsively <had a habit of tapping his fingers>. practice suggests an act or method followed with regularity and usually through choice <our practice is to honor all major credit cards>. usage suggests a customary action so generally followed that it has become a social norm <western-style dress is now common usage in international business>. custom applies to a practice or usage so steadily associated with an individual or group as to have almost the force of unwritten law <the custom of wearing black at funerals>. wont usually applies to an habitual manner, method, or practice of an individual or group <as was her wont, she slept until noon>.

Other Equestrian Terms

canter, cantle, curry, farrier, hunter, paddock, router, skirt, tack

Rhymes with HABIT

abbot, rabbet, rabbit, sabbat