HABIT


Meaning of HABIT in English

habit 1

/hab"it/ , n.

1. an acquired behavior pattern regularly followed until it has become almost involuntary: the habit of looking both ways before crossing the street.

2. customary practice or use: Daily bathing is an American habit.

3. a particular practice, custom, or usage: the habit of shaking hands.

4. a dominant or regular disposition or tendency; prevailing character or quality: She has a habit of looking at the bright side of things.

5. addiction, esp. to narcotics (often prec. by the ).

6. mental character or disposition: a habit of mind.

7. characteristic bodily or physical condition.

8. the characteristic form, aspect, mode of growth, etc., of an organism: a twining habit.

9. the characteristic crystalline form of a mineral.

10. garb of a particular rank, profession, religious order, etc.: a monk's habit.

11. the attire worn by a rider of a saddle horse.

v.t.

12. to clothe; array.

[ 1175-1225; ME habitus state, style, practice, equiv. to habi- (var. s. of habere to have) + -tus verbal n. suffix; r. ME abit ]

Syn. 2. bent, wont. 3. See custom. 10. dress, costume. 12. dress, garb, attire; deck out.

habit 2

/hab"it/ , v.t.

1. Archaic. to dwell in.

v.i.

2. Obs. to dwell.

[ 1325-75; ME habiten habitare to inhabit; see HABITAT ]

Random House Webster's Unabridged English dictionary.      Полный английский словарь Вебстер - Random House .