custom

Definition from Wiktionary, a free dictionary

Contents 1 English 1.1 Etymology 1.2 Pronunciation 1.3 Noun 1.3.1 Synonyms 1.3.2 Derived terms 1.3.3 Translations 1.4 Adjective 1.5 Verb 1.6 Related terms 1.7 External links

[edit] English

[edit] Etymology

< Middle English < Old French costume < Mediaeval Latin custuma (“‘custom, etc.’”), a contraction and modification of Latin consuetudo (“‘custom, habit’”) < consuescere (“‘to accustom’”), inchoative form of consuere (“‘to be accustomed’”) < con- + suere (“‘to be accustomed’”), perhaps < suus (“‘one's own, his own’”); see consuetude.

[edit] Pronunciation

• IPA: /kʌstəm/
•  Audio (US)^{help, file}

[edit] Noun

custom (plural customs)

1. Frequent repetition of the same act; way of acting common to many; ordinary manner; habitual practice; usage; method of doing or living.

   • And teach customs which are not lawful. Acts xvi. 21.
   • Moved beyond his custom, Gama said. Alfred Tennyson.
   • A custom More honored in the breach than the observance. Shakespeare

2. Habitual buying of goods; practice of frequenting, as a shop, manufactory, etc., for making purchases or giving orders; business support.
   • Let him have your custom, but not your votes. - Joseph Addison.
3. (law) Long-established practice, considered as unwritten law, and resting for authority on long consent; usage. See Usage, and Prescription.
   • Usage is a fact. Custom is a law. There can be no custom without usage, though there may be usage without custom. Wharton.
4. (obsolete) Familiar acquaintance; familiarity.
   • Age can not wither her, nor custom stale Her infinite variety. Shakespeare
5. The customary toll, tax, or tribute.
   • Render, therefore, to all their dues: tribute to whom tribute is due; custom to whom custom. Rom. xiii. 7.
6. (plurale tantum) Duties or tolls imposed by law on commodities, imported or exported.

[edit] Synonyms

fashion habit

practice usage

[edit] Derived terms

• custom made

[edit] Translations

[edit] Adjective

custom (not comparable)

1. made in a different way from usual, specially to fit one's needs

   My feet are as big as powerboats, so I need custom shoes.

[edit] Verb

to custom (third-person singular simple present customs, present participle customing, simple past and past participle customed)

1. (obsolete) (transitive) To make familiar; to accustom.
2. (obsolete) (transitive) To supply with customers.
3. (obsolete) (transitive) To pay the customs of.
4. (obsolete) (intransitive) To have a custom.

   • On a bridge he custometh to fight. Edmund Spenser.

[edit] Related terms

• consuetude
• costumal
• costume
• customary
• customer
• customization
• customize

[edit] External links

• custom in Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary, G. & C. Merriam, 1913
• custom in The Century Dictionary, The Century Co., New York, 1911