\Hab"it\n. [OE. habit, abit fr. habit fr. L. habitus
state, appearance, dress, fr. habere to have, be in a
condition; prob. akin to E. have. See {Have}, and cf. {Able},
{Binnacle}, {Debt}, {Due}, {Exhibit}, {Malady.}]
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 states, several of Venus, in
         different habits.                     --Addison.
Syn: Practice; mode; manner; way; custom; fashion.
Usage: {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.

\Hab"it\ (h[a^]b"[i^]t), v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Habited}; p.
pr. & vb. n. {Habiting}.] [OE. habiten to dwell, F. habiter,
fr. L. habitare to have frequently, to dwell, intens. fr.
habere to have. See {Habit}, n.]
1. To inhabit. [Obs.]
         In thilke places as they [birds] habiten. --Rom. of
                                               R.
2. To dress; to clothe; to array.
         They habited themselves lite those rural deities.
                                               --Dryden.
3. To accustom; to habituate. [Obs.] Chapman.