Habit
Pronunciation
- IPA: /ˈhæbɪt/
- Rhymes: -æbɪt
Origin 1
From Middle English, from Old French habit, from Latin habitus ("condition, bearing, state, appearance, dress, attire"), from habeÅ ("I have, hold, keep"); see have.
Full definition of habit
Noun
habit
(plural habits)- An action done on a regular basis.
- Washington Irvinga man of very shy, retired habits
- 2013-07-19, Ian Sample, Irregular bedtimes may affect children's brains, Irregular bedtimes may disrupt healthy brain development in young children, according to a study of intelligence and sleeping habits. ¶ Going to bed at a different time each night affected girls more than boys, but both fared worse on mental tasks than children who had a set bedtime, researchers found.
- It’s become a habit of mine to have a cup of coffee after dinner.
- An action performed repeatedly and automatically, usually without awareness.By force of habit, he dressed for work even though it was holiday.
- A long piece of clothing worn by monks and nuns.It’s interesting how Catholic and Buddhist monks both wear habits.
- A piece of clothing worn uniformly for a specific activity.The new riding habits of the team looked smashing!
- (archaic) Outward appearance; attire; dress.
- ShakespeareCostly thy habit as thy purse can buy.
- AddisonThere are, among the statues, several of Venus, in different habits.
- 1719, Daniel Defoe, Robinson Crusoe...it was always my fate to choose for the worse, so I did here; for having money in my pocket and good clothes upon my back, I would always go on board in the habit of a gentleman; and so I neither had any business in the ship, or learned to do any.
- (botany) form of growth or general appearance of a variety or species of plant, e.g. erect, prostrate, bushy.
- An addiction.He has a 10-cigar habit.
Synonyms
Origin 2
From Middle English habiten, from Old French habiter, from Latin habitÄre, present active infinitive of habitÅ (""), frequentative of habeÅ ("I have, hold, keep"); see have.