habit

views updated

hab·it / ˈhabit/ • n. 1. a settled or regular tendency or practice, esp. one that is hard to give up: this can develop into a bad habit | we stayed together out of habit. ∎  inf. an addictive practice, esp. one of taking drugs: a cocaine habit. ∎  Psychol. an automatic reaction to a specific situation. ∎  general shape or mode of growth, esp. of a plant or a mineral: a shrub of spreading habit.2. a long, loose garment worn by a member of a religious order or congregation. ∎ short for riding habit. ∎ archaic dress; attire.3. archaic a person's bodily condition or constitution: a victim to a consumptive habit.• v. [tr.] (usu. be habited) archaic dress; clothe: a boy habited as a serving lad.PHRASES: break (or inf. kick) the habit stop engaging in a habitual practice.ORIGIN: Middle English: from Old French abit, habit, from Latin habitus ‘condition, appearance,’ from habere ‘have, consist of.’ The term originally meant ‘dress, attire,’ later coming to denote physical or mental constitution.

More From encyclopedia.com