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custom

Pronunciation: /ˈkʌstəm/

The English word “custom” has 16 meanings listed here.

noun

  1. Frequent repetition of the same behavior; way of behavior common to many; ordinary manner; habitual practice; method of doing, living or behaving.
  2. Habitual buying of goods from one same vendor.
  3. The habitual patrons (i.e. customers) of a business; business support.
  4. Long-established practice, considered as unwritten law, and resting for authority on long consent. Compare prescription.
  5. Traditional beliefs or rituals.
  6. A custom (made-to-order) piece of art, etc.
  7. Familiar acquaintance; familiarity.
  8. Toll, tax, or tribute.

adjective

  1. Made or done in a way adjusted to fit the needs of a particular person or group (e.g., customer, health care patient, do-it-yourselfer), and thus specialized and, in some cases, unique.
  2. Own, personal, not standard or premade.
  3. Done on a for-hire basis, as contrasted with being done only for oneself.
  4. Accustomed; usual.

verb

  1. To make familiar; to accustom.
  2. To supply with customers.
  3. To pay the customs of.
  4. To have a custom.

Etymology

PIE word *ḱóm PIE word *swé From Middle English custume, borrowed from Anglo-Norman custume, inherited from Latin consuētūdinem, a noun derived from cōnsuēscō, from con- (“with”) + suēscō (“become used or accustomed to”). Displaced native Old English ġewuna and sidu. Doublet of costume, consuetude, and kastom. The adjectival form first appears c. 1830.

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Definitions are from Wiktionary, extracted by Kaikki.org, and are available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 licence.