Custom
Pronunciation
- IPA: /ˈkʌstəm/
Origin
From Middle English custume, from Anglo-Norman custume, from Old French coustume, from Vulgar Latin *cÅnsuÄ“tÅ«men, from Latin cÅnsuÄ“tÅ«dinem, accusative singular of cÅnsuÄ“tÅ«dÅ ("custom, habit"), from cÅnsuÄ“scÅ ("accustom, habituate"), from con- ("with") + suÄ“scÅ ("become used or accustomed"), inchoative form of sueÅ ("I am accustomed"), perhaps from suus ("one's own, his own"); see consuetude. Displaced native Middle English wune, wone ("custom, habit, practice") (from Old English wuna ("custom, habit, practice, rite")), Middle English side, sid ("custom") (from Old English sidu, sido ("custom, note, manner")), Middle English cure ("custom, choice, preference") (from Old English cyre ("choice, choosing, free will")).
Full definition of custom
Noun
custom
(plural customs)- Frequent repetition of the same behavior; way of behavior common to many; ordinary manner; habitual practice; usage; method of doing, living or behaving.
- And teach customs which are not lawful. Acts xvi. 21.
- Moved beyond his custom, Gama said. Alfred Tennyson.
- A custom More honored in the breach than the observance. Shakespeare
- Habitual buying of goods; practice of frequenting, as a shop, manufactory, etc., for making purchases or giving orders; business support.
- Let him have your custom, but not your votes. - Joseph Addison.
- (legal) Long-established practice, considered as unwritten law, and resting for authority on long consent; usage. See Usage, and Prescription.
- Usage is a fact. Custom is a law. There can be no custom without usage, though there may be usage without custom. Wharton.
- (obsolete) Familiar acquaintance; familiarity.
- Age can not wither her, nor custom stale Her infinite variety. Shakespeare
- The customary toll, tax, or tribute.
- Render, therefore, to all their dues: tribute to whom tribute is due; custom to whom custom. Rom. xiii. 7.
- created under particular specifications, specialized, unique, custom-made
Synonyms
Derived terms
Adjective
custom
- made in a different way from usual, specially to fit one's needsMy feet are as big as powerboats, so I need custom shoes.
Verb
- (obsolete, transitive) To make familiar; to accustom.
- (obsolete, transitive) To supply with customers.
- (obsolete, transitive) To pay the customs of.
- (obsolete, intransitive) To have a custom.
- On a bridge he custometh to fight. Edmund Spenser.