custom

Custom is defined as a tradition or a usual way to behave.

(noun)

An example of custom is Catholics giving up meat on Fridays during Lent.

The definition of custom is made or designed specifically for an individual.

(adjective)

An example of custom is a wedding gown that the bride designed herself.

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See custom in Webster's New World College Dictionary

noun

  1. a usual practice or habitual way of behaving; habit
    1. a social convention carried on by tradition and enforced by social disapproval of any violation
    2. such practices, collectively
  2. under feudalism, a service, rent, etc. regularly paid to a lord
    1. duties or taxes imposed by a government on imported and, occasionally, exported goods
    2. the government agency in charge of collecting these duties, or any of its offices
    1. the regular support or patronage of a business establishment
    2. customers as a group
  3. Law such usage as by common consent and long-established, uniform practice has taken on the force of law

Origin: ME < OFr costume < L consuetudo < consuescere, to accustom < com-, intens. + suescere, to become accustomed < suere, to be accustomed, akin to suus, one's own: for IE base see suicide

adjective

  1. made or done to order or, sometimes, made extra fine, as if to order
  2. making things to order, or dealing in things made to order: a custom tailor

See custom in American Heritage Dictionary 4

cus·tom

noun
  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.
adjective
  1. Made to order.
  2. Specializing in the making or selling of made-to-order goods: a custom tailor.

Origin: Middle English custume, from Old French costume, from Latin cōnsuētūdō, cōnsuētūdin-, from cōnsuētus, past participle of cōnsuēscere, to accustom : com-, intensive pref.; see com-  + suēscere, to become accustomed; see s(w)e- in Indo-European roots.

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