habit
/ˈhæb.ɪt/
noun
Origin
Latin
habitus — condition, character, or appearance
Overview
Meaning Now
- A settled or regular tendency or practice, especially one that is hard to give up.
- A long, loose garment worn by a member of a religious order or congregation.
Literal older meaning
that which is held or kept
Language path
Proto-Indo-European → Latin → Old French → English
Earliest form
habit
Earliest period
13th century
Journey
The word stems from the Latin 'habere' (to have). In Medieval Latin, 'habitus' evolved to signify not just a physical state, but specifically the clothes one wore (the state of one's appearance). This is why 'habit' still refers to a nun's clothing today, while simultaneously referring to ingrained behavioral patterns.
Evolution
- Proto-Indo-European
*ghabh-
“to give or receive”
- Latin
habere
“to have, hold, or possess”
- Latin
habitus
“state, condition, or attire”
- Old French
habit
“clothing, attire, or practice”
- Middle English
habit
“garment or custom”
Connections
Word parts
hab-
root
to hold
-it
suffix
suffix indicating state or result
Related across languages
French
clothing
Spanish
hábito
habit or clothing
Explore next
Related to habit
External references use DefinedTerm semantics.