HABIT

Jer 13:23; 22:21; Mic 2:1

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habit. Habit, n. an aptitude or disposition acquired by custom, customary use, dress

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Hab″it (hăb″ĭt) n. [[OE. habit, abit, F. 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.]] 1. 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. 2. (Biol.) The general appearance and manner of life of a living organism.
3. 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. 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 statues, 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.