habit English · revision 6594

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=borrowing|attested=before 1200|origins=la habeo}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: /ˈhæb.ɪt/^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is Middle English habit, abit, [[bor|fro|habit|alt=abit, habit|t=clothing; conduct]],^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline)^(Hoad 1986)^(MWU 2024) from [[la|habitus|t=condition, demeanour, appearance, dress]], originally the past participle of [[m|la|habeo|alt=habēre|t=to have, hold; to be constituted]],^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline)^(Hoad 1986) from PIE [[ine-pro|*gʰeh₁bʰ-|alt=*ghabh-|t=to give or receive]].^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ Dress or clothing, especially that of a religious order: probably before 1200, in the ''Ancrene Riwle'', in Barnhart, before 1225 in the OED;^(Barnhart 1988)^(OED 1989) the early 13th century in Etymonline.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ Hoad notes that the whole range of meaning, dress and disposition, was already developed in Latin.^(Hoad 1986) Customary practice, a usual way of acting, is from the early 14th century,^(Etymonline) and outward form and mental constitution are also 14th-century senses.^(Barnhart 1988)^(Hoad 1986) Clothing in general is from the late 14th century; the sense of dress is now limited to the garments of monks and nuns, and in the 19th century to a woman's riding costume.^(Etymonline)^(OED 1989) A settled tendency or custom is chiefly from the 16th century.^(Hoad 1986) The drug habit, an addiction, is from 1887.^(Etymonline) The verb meant to dwell (mid-14th century) and to dress (1580s).^(Etymonline)^(Hoad 1986)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * before 1200 – religious dress.^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * early 14th century – a customary practice.^(Etymonline)

+ * late 14th century – clothing in general.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1580s – the verb, to dress.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1887 – a drug habit.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Noun===

+ # A settled tendency or usual way of behaving, especially one hard to give up.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # An [[addiction]], especially to a [[drug]].^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # The distinctive dress of a [[monk]] or [[nun]]; also a riding habit.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # ''(biology)'' The characteristic form or mode of growth of a plant or animal.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+

+ ===Verb===

+ # ''(archaic)'' To dress or clothe.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[habit-forming]]

+ * [[force of habit]]

+ * [[riding habit]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[exhibit]]

+ * [[habitual]]

+ * [[habituate]]

+ * [[habitus]]

+ * [[inhibit]]

+ * [[prohibit]]

+ * [[habitant]]

+ * [[inhabit]]

+ * [[habitat]]

+ * [[habitation]]

+ * [[able]]

+

+ ==Usage notes==

+ The Century Dictionary, quoted by Etymonline, defines a habit as a custom kept up so steadily that it creates a tendency to continue, and notes that habit and practice apply to individuals, fashion and usage to many people.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}