2. (Biol.) The general appearance and manner of life of a
living organism.
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. 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 states, several of Venus, in
different habits. --Addison.
Syn: Practice; mode; manner; way; custom; fashion.
Usage: {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,
In thilke places as they [birds] habiten. --Rom. of
R.
2. To dress; to clothe; to array.
They habited themselves lite those rural deities.
--Dryden.
3. To accustom; to habituate. [Obs.] Chapman.