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custom

   Also found in: Medical, Legal, Encyclopedia, Wikipedia, Hutchinson 0.06 sec.
cus·tom  (kstm)
n.
1. A practice followed by people of a particular group or region.
2. A habitual practice of a person: my custom of reading a little before sleep. See Synonyms at habit.
3. Law A common tradition or usage so long established that it has the force or validity of law.
4.
a. Habitual patronage, as of a store.
b. Habitual customers; patrons.
5. customs
a. Duties or taxes imposed on imported and, less commonly, exported goods.
b. (used with a sing. verb) The governmental agency authorized to collect these duties.
c. (used with a sing. verb) The procedure for inspecting goods and baggage entering a country.
6. Tribute, service, or rent paid by a feudal tenant to a lord.
adj.
1. Made to order.
2. Specializing in the making or selling of made-to-order goods: a custom tailor.

[Middle English custume, from Old French costume, from Latin cnsutd, cnsutdin-, from cnsutus, past participle of cnsuscere, to accustom : com-, intensive pref.; see com- + suscere, to become accustomed; see s(w)e- in Indo-European roots.]

custom
Noun
1. a long-established activity, action, or festivity: the custom of serving port after dinner
2. the long-established habits or traditions of a society
3. a usual practice or habit: she held his hand more tightly than was her custom in public
4. regular use of a shop or business
Adjective
made to the specifications of an individual customer: a custom car, custom-tailored suits
See also customs [Latin consuetudo]
ThesaurusLegend:  Synonyms Related Words Antonyms
Noun1.customcustom - accepted or habitual practice
practice, pattern - a customary way of operation or behavior; "it is their practice to give annual raises"; "they changed their dietary pattern"
Americanism - a custom that is peculiar to the United States or its citizens
Anglicism, Britishism - a custom that is peculiar to England or its citizens
consuetude - a custom or usage that has acquired the force of law
couvade - a custom among some peoples whereby the husband of a pregnant wife is put to bed at the time of bearing the child
Germanism - a custom that is peculiar to Germany or its citizens
habit, use - (psychology) an automatic pattern of behavior in reaction to a specific situation; may be inherited or acquired through frequent repetition; "owls have nocturnal habits"; "she had a habit twirling the ends of her hair"; "long use had hardened him to it"
hijab - the custom in some Islamic societies of women dressing modestly outside the home; "she observes the hijab and does not wear tight clothing"
survival - something that survives
ritual, rite - any customary observance or practice
2.customcustom - a specific practice of long standing
practice - knowledge of how something is usually done; "it is not the local practice to wear shorts to dinner"
habit, wont - an established custom; "it was their habit to dine at 7 every evening"
Hadith - (Islam) a tradition based on reports of the sayings and activities of Muhammad and his companions
institution - a custom that for a long time has been an important feature of some group or society; "the institution of marriage"; "the institution of slavery"; "he had become an institution in the theater"
3.custom - money collected under a tariff
tariff, duty - a government tax on imports or exports; "they signed a treaty to lower duties on trade between their countries"
ship money - an impost levied in England to provide money for ships for national defense
4.custom - habitual patronage; "I have given this tailor my custom for many years"
trade, patronage - the business given to a commercial establishment by its customers; "even before noon there was a considerable patronage"
Adj.1.custom - made according to the specifications of an individual

custom
noun 3. customers, business, trade, patronage
Translations
Spanish custom [ˈkʌstəm] ncostumbre f;
(COMM) → clientela see also customs

French custom [ˈkʌstəm] ncoutume f, usage m;
(Law) → droit coutumier, coutume;
(Comm) → clientèle f

German custom [ˈkʌstəm] nBrauch m;
(habit) → (An)gewohnheit f;
(Law) → Gewohnheitsrecht nt;
(Comm) → Kundschaft f

Italian custom [ˈkʌstəm] ncostume m; usanza;
(LAW) → consuetudine f;
(COMM) → clientela see also customs

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There was always a prophetic instinct, a low whisper in my ear, that within no long period, and whenever a new change of custom should be essential to my good, change would come.
He ordered at the same time that all the Apes be arranged in a long row on his right hand and on his left, and that a throne be placed for him, as was the custom among men.
Whenever a loved pig died its owners were in custom bound to go out and kill somebody, anybody.
 
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