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Webster 1913 Edition

Custom

Cus′tom

(kŭs′tŭm)
,
Noun.
[OF.
custume
,
costume
, Anglo-Norman
coustome
, F.
coutume
, fr. (assumed) LL.
consuetumen
custom, habit, fr. L.
consuetudo
,
-dinis
, fr.
consuescere
to accustom, verb inchoative fr.
consuere
to be accustomed;
con-
+
suere
to be accustomed, prob. originally, to make one’s own, fr. the root of
suus
one's own; akin to E.
so
, adv. Cf.
Consuetude
,
Costume
.]
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.
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.
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.
Familiar aquaintance; familiarity.
[Obs.]
Age can not wither her, nor
custom
stale
Her infinite variety.
Shakespeare
Syn. – Practice; fashion. See
Habit
, and
Usage
.

Cus′tom

,
Verb.
T.
[Cf. OF.
costumer
. Cf.
Accustom
.]
1.
To make familiar; to accustom.
[Obs.]
Gray.
2.
To supply with customers.
[Obs.]
Bacon.

Cus′tom

,
Verb.
I.
To have a custom.
[Obs.]
On a bridge he
custometh
to fight.
Spenser.

Cus′tom

,
Noun.
[OF.
coustume
, F.
coutume
, tax, i. e., the
usual
tax. See 1st
Custom
.]
1.
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.
2.
pl.
Duties or tolls imposed by law on commodities, imported or exported.

Cus′tom

,
Verb.
T.
To pay the customs of.
[Obs.]
Marlowe.

Webster 1828 Edition

Custom

CUSTOM

,
Noun.
[L.]
1.
Frequent or common use, or practice; a frequent repetition o the same act; hence, way; established manner; habitual practice.
The prists custom with the people was--- 1 Samuel 2.
We have no such custom. 1 Corinthians 11.
The customs of the people are vain. Jeremiah 10.
2.
A buying of goods; practice of frequenting a shop and purchasing or procuring to be done.
Let him have your custom, but not your votes.
The shopkeeper has extensive custom, or a good run of custom. A mill or a manufacturer has extensive custom, or little custom.
3.
In law, long established practice, or usage, which constitutes the unwritten law, and long consent to which gives it authority. Customs are general, which extend over a state or kingdom, and particular, which are limited to a city or district.

CUSTOM

, v.t
1.
To make familiar. [See Accustom, which is the word used.]
2.
To give custom to.

CUSTOM

,
Noun.
Tribute, toll or tax; that is, cost or charge paid to the public.
Render custom to whom custom is due. Romans 13.
Customs, in the plural, the duties imposed by law on merchandize imported or exported. IN Great Britain and the United States, this word is limited to these species of duties.

Definition 2024

custom

custom

English

Noun

custom ‎(plural customs)

  1. Frequent repetition of the same behavior; way of behavior common to many; ordinary manner; habitual practice; method of doing, living or behaving.
    • 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. Traditional beliefs or rituals
  3. Habitual buying of goods; practice of frequenting, as a shop, manufactory, etc., for making purchases or giving orders; business support.
  4. (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.
  5. (obsolete) Familiar acquaintance; familiarity.
    • Age can not wither her, nor custom stale Her infinite variety. Shakespeare
  6. 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.

Synonyms

Translations

Adjective

custom ‎(not comparable)

  1. Created under particular specifications, specially to fit one's needs: specialized, unique, custom-made
    My feet are as big as powerboats, so I need custom shoes.
  2. Own, personal, not standard or premade
    We can embroider a wide range of ready designs or a custom logo.
  • See also: Wikisaurus:custom-made

Derived terms

Translations

Verb

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

  1. (obsolete, transitive) To make familiar; to accustom.
    (Can we find and add a quotation of Gray to this entry?)
  2. (obsolete, transitive) To supply with customers.
    (Can we find and add a quotation of Francis Bacon to this entry?)
  3. (obsolete, transitive) To pay the customs of.
  4. (obsolete, intransitive) To have a custom.

Related terms

Etymology

From Middle English custume, from Anglo-Norman custume, from Old French coustume, from Vulgar Latin *cōnsuētūmen, from Latin cōnsuētūdinem, accusative singular of cōnsuētūdō ‎(“custom, habit”), from cōnsuēscō ‎(“accustom, habituate”), from con- ‎(“with”) + suēscō ‎(“become used or accustomed”), inchoative form of sueō ‎(“I am accustomed”), perhaps from suus ‎(“one's own, his own”); see consuetude. Displaced native Middle English wune, wone ‎(“custom, habit, practice”) (from Old English wuna ‎(“custom, habit, practice, rite”)), Middle English side, sid ‎(“custom”) (from Old English sidu, sido ‎(“custom, note, manner”)), Middle English cure ‎(“custom, choice, preference”) (from Old English cyre ‎(“choice, choosing, free will”)).

Pronunciation

  • IPA(key): /ˈkʌstəm/

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