custom

n. [ OF. custume, costume, Anglo-Norman coustome, F. coutume, fr. (assumed) LL. consuetumen custom, habit, fr. L. consuetudo, -dinis, fr. consuescere to accustom, verb inchoative fr. consuere to be accustomed; con- + suere to be accustomed, prob. originally, to make one's own, fr. the root of suus one's own; akin to E. so, adv. Cf. Consuetude, Costume. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

1. Frequent repetition of the same act; way of acting common to many; ordinary manner; habitual practice; usage; method of doing or living. [ 1913 Webster ]

And teach customs which are not lawful. Acts xvi. 21. [ 1913 Webster ]

Moved beyond his custom, Gama said. Tennyson. [ 1913 Webster ]

A custom
More honored in the breach than the observance. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Habitual buying of goods; practice of frequenting, as a shop, manufactory, etc., for making purchases or giving orders; business support. [ 1913 Webster ]

Let him have your custom, but not your votes. Addison. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. (Law) Long-established practice, considered as unwritten law, and resting for authority on long consent; usage. See Usage, and Prescription. [ 1913 Webster ]

☞ Usage is a fact. Custom is a law. There can be no custom without usage, though there may be usage without custom. Wharton. [ 1913 Webster ]

4. Familiar aquaintance; familiarity. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

Age can not wither her, nor custom stale
Her infinite variety. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

Custom of merchants, a system or code of customs by which affairs of commerce are regulated. --
General customs, those which extend over a state or kingdom. --
Particular customs, those which are limited to a city or district; as, the customs of London.

Syn. -- Practice; fashion. See Habit, and Usage. [ 1913 Webster ]