WordWeight : Weighing the Words

Pronunciation : Cus"tom (ks"tm)
Part of Speech : n.
Etymology : [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, prosuus one's own;
Definition : 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 beyong his custom, Gama said. Tennyson. A custom More honored in the breach than the observance. Shak.

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)

Defn: Long-established practice, considered as unwritten law, and resting for authority on long consent; usage. See Usage, and Prescription.

Note: 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. Shak. Custom of merchants, a system or code of customs by which affairs of commerce are regulated. -- General customs, those which extend over a state or kingdom. -- Particular customs, those which are limited to a city or district; as, the customs of London.

Syn. -- Practice; fashion. See Habit, and Usage.
Source : Webster's Unabridged Dictionary, 1913

Pronunciation : Cus"tom
Part of Speech : v.
Etymology : [Cf. OF. costumer. Cf. Accustom.]
Definition : 1. To make familiar; to accustom. [Obs.] Gray.

2. To supply with customers. [Obs.] Bacon.

t.
Source : Webster's Unabridged Dictionary, 1913

Pronunciation : Cus"tom
Part of Speech : v.
Definition : Defn: To have a custom. [Obs.] On a bridge he custometh to fight. Spenser.

i.
Source : Webster's Unabridged Dictionary, 1913

Pronunciation : Cus"tom
Part of Speech : n.
Etymology : [OF. coustume, F. coutume, tax, i. e., the usual tax. See 1st Custom.]
Definition : Defn: 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.

Defn: Duties or tolls imposed by law on commodities, imported or exported.
Source : Webster's Unabridged Dictionary, 1913

Pronunciation : Cus"tom
Part of Speech : v.
Definition : Defn: To pay the customs of. [Obs.] Marlowe.

t.
Source : Webster's Unabridged Dictionary, 1913