- a pattern of behavior acquired through frequent repetition
"she had a habit twirling the ends of her hair"
"long use had hardened him to it"

- excessive use of drugs

- (religion) a distinctive attire (as the costume of a religious order)

- an established custom
"it was their habit to dine at 7 every evening"

- put a habit on

1. The usual condition or state of a person or thing, either natural or acquired, regarded as something had, possessed, and firmly retained; as, a religious habit; his habit is morose; elms have a spreading habit; esp., physical temperament or constitution; as, a full habit of body.

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 statues, several of Venus, in different habits." -- Addison.

Syn. -- Practice; mode; manner; way; custom; fashion. -- 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, Consent, or custom." -- Milton.

1. To inhabit. [Obs.]

"In thilke places as they [birds] habiten." -- Rom. of R.

2. To dress; to clothe; to array.

"They habited themselves like those rural deities." -- Dryden.

3. To accustom; to habituate. [Obs.] Chapman.