habit

plural habits

1. countableuncountableAn action performed on a regular basis.

   I really need to get into the habit of writing down what I spend.

   3 more examples

   It’s become a habit of mine to have a cup of coffee after dinner.

   a man of very shy, retired habits

   1824, Geoffrey Crayon [pseudonym; Washington Irving], Tales of a Traveller, (please specify |part=1 to 4), Philadelphia, Pa.: H[enry] C[harles] Carey & I[saac] Lea, […], →OCLC

   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.

   2013 July 19, Ian Sample, “Irregular bedtimes may affect children's brains”, in The Guardian Weekly, volume 189, number 6, page 34

   Synonyms: wont, routine, ritual, habitude

2. countableuncountableAn action performed repeatedly and automatically, usually without awareness.

   By force of habit, he dressed for work even though it was holiday.

3. countableuncountableAn addiction.

   kick the habit

   2 more examples

   He has a 10-cigar habit.

   Another white boy band / They're happy on demand / Everything is planned / Until the singer gets a habit

   2000, “I'm With Stupid”, in WYSIWYG, performed by Chumbawamba

present singular third person habits · participle present habiting · participle past habited · past habited

1. transitiveTo clothe.

   Here I began my shopping, was interviewed by dressmakers, and naturally had much to do to habit myself for civilized life again.

   1887, Harriet W. Daly, Digging, Squatting, and Pioneering Life in the Northern Territory of South Australia, page 132

   1 more example

   Ritson, who was a native of the bishoprick of Durham, tells us that the fairies frequented many parts of it; that they were described as being of the smallest size, and uniformly habited in green.

   1850, Thomas Keightley, The Fairy Mythology, London: H.G. Bohn, page 309

   Synonyms: garb, habilitate

2. archaictransitiveTo inhabit.

plural habits

1. countableuncountableA long piece of clothing worn by monks and nuns.

   It’s interesting how Catholic and Buddhist monks both wear habits.

2. countableuncountableA piece of clothing worn for a specific activity; a uniform.

   The new riding habits of the team looked smashing!

   1 more example

   Sidesaddle riding habits were prestigious tailored sportswear appropriate for the equestrian pursuits of the truly wealthy.

   2015, Alison Matthews David, Fashion Victims: The Damages of Dress Past and Present, →ISBN, page 34

3. archaiccountableuncountableOutward appearance; attire; dress.

   Costly thy habit as thy purse can buy.

   c. 1599–1602 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Tragedie of Hamlet, Prince of Denmarke”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act I, scene iii]

   5 more examples

   Noble and milde this Perſean ſeemes to be, If outward habit Iudge the inward man.

   c. 1587–1588 (date written), [Christopher Marlowe], Tamburlaine the Great. […] The First Part […], 2nd edition, part 1, London: […] [R. Robinson for] Richard Iones, […], published 1592, →OCLC; reprinted as Tamburlaine the Great (A Scolar Press Facsimile), Menston, Yorkshire; London: Scolar Press, 1973, →ISBN, Act I, scene ii

   There are, among the statues, several of Venus, in different habits.

   1705, J[oseph] Addison, Remarks on Several Parts of Italy, &c. in the Years 1701, 1702, 1703, London: […] Jacob Tonson, […], →OCLC

   […]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.

   1719, Daniel Defoe, Robinson Crusoe

   There were ſeveral of his Prieſts and Lawyers preſent, (as I conjectured by their habits) who were commanded to addreſs themſelves to me, and I ſpoke to them in as many Languages as I had the leaſt ſmattering of, which were High and Low Dutch, Latin, French, Spaniſh, Italian, and Lingua Franca; but all to no purpoſe.

   1726 October 28, [Jonathan Swift], “The Emperor of Lilliput, Attended by Several of the Nobility, Come to See the Author in His Confinement. […]”, in Travels into Several Remote Nations of the World. […] [Gulliver’s Travels], volume I, London: […] Benj[amin] Motte, […], →OCLC, part I (A Voyage to Lilliput), page 30

   In the Cotswolds, though the towns are small and sweet and the inns snug, the general habit of the land is bleak and bare.

   1921, A. E. Coppard, “Dusky Ruth”, in Adam & Eve & Pinch Me

4. countableuncountablebiologyForm of growth or general appearance and structure of a plant or crystal.