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”)).
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
3. (law) Long-established practice, considered as unwritten law, and resting for authority on long consent; usage. See Usage, and Prescription.
4. (obsolete) Familiar acquaintance; familiarity.
5. The customary toll, tax, or tribute.
6. created under particular specifications, specialized, unique, custom-made
Synonyms
- fashion
- habit
- wone
- practice
- usage
- wont
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.
Verb
custom (third-person singular simple present customs, present participle customing, simple past and past participle customed)
- (obsolete) (transitive) To make familiar; to accustom.
- (obsolete) (transitive) To supply with customers.
- (obsolete) (transitive) To pay the customs of.
- (obsolete) (intransitive) To have a custom.
- On a bridge he custometh to fight. Edmund Spenser.
