custom

Frequent repetition of the same behavior; way of behavior common to many; ordinary manner; habitual practice; method of doing, living or behaving.

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.
    • Near-synonyms: custom-made, tailored, tailor-made, custom-built, purpose-built; see also Thesaurus:custom-made
    • My feet are very large, so I need custom shoes, specially made by a custom tailor.

    Synonyms: bespoke custom-made tailored tailor-made custom-built purpose-built made-to-measure made-to-order

  2. Own, personal, not standard or premade.
    • We can embroider a wide range of ready designs or a custom logo.
  3. Done on a for-hire basis, as contrasted with being done only for oneself.
    • custom threshing
    • custom baling
    • The amount of high-end equipment that he maintains is justified by the fact that he does a lot of custom tillage and combining.
  4. Accustomed; usual.

Origin

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. Doublet of costume, consuetude, and kastom. The adjectival form first appears c. 1830.

Related

custom-made

Derived

custom car customly custom-made custom made custom snowball custom vehicle noncustom

Noun

  1. Frequent repetition of the same behavior; way of behavior common to many; ordinary manner; habitual practice; method of doing, living or behaving.
    • Much forbidden by elder custom is accepted today.
    • A custom More honour'd in the breach than the observance. - c. 1599–1602 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Tragedie of Hamlet, Prince of Denmarke”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies...
    • 20 […] These men being Iewes, do exceedingly trouble our city, 21 And teach customes which are not lawfull for vs to receiue, neither to obserue, being Romanes. - 1611, The Holy Bible, […] (King James Version), London:...
  2. Habitual buying of goods from one same vendor.
    • Thank you for your custom.
    • Let him have your custom, but not your votes. - 1710 September 28, Joseph Addison, The Whig Examiner, number 3:

    1. (collectively) The habitual patrons (i.e. customers) of a business; business support.

  3. Long-established practice, considered as unwritten law, and resting for authority on long consent. Compare prescription.
    • The distinction between custom and usage it that usage is a fact and custom is a law. There can be usage without custom, but not custom without usage. - 1888, Francis Wharton, A Commentary on the Law of Evidence in...

    Synonyms: usage

  4. Traditional beliefs or rituals.
    • The Ancient Egyptian culture had many distinctive and interesting beliefs and customs; one custom was the mummification of the dead.
  5. A custom (made-to-order) piece of art, etc.
    • The rest of the necklace holders finally came in! If you bought a custom from me thank you so much for your patience! I’m gonna try my best to crank them out as fast as possible - 2019 May 31, Abella Art & Design, tweet
    • Oftentimes I have trouble finding enough women to buy customs from. Strangely enough, finding women to take hundreds of dollars for a selfie isn’t as easy as you’d think. - 2020 July 28, “Paying for porn: How much is...
  6. Familiar acquaintance; familiarity.
    • Age can not wither her, nor custom stale Her infinite variety. - c. 1606–1607 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Tragedie of Anthonie and Cleopatra”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies...
  7. Toll, tax, or tribute.
    • Render therefore to all their dues: tribute to whom tribute is due; custom to whom custom; fear to whom fear; honour to whom honour. - 1769, Bible, Authorised King James Version, Oxford standard text, Romans, xiii, 7

Forms

customs

Synonyms

fashion folkway habit practice usage wone wont

Derived

custom and practice custom-built custom house customless grow a custom heir by custom suit custom take one's custom elsewhere Ulster custom

Verb

  1. To make familiar; to accustom.
    • a. 1771 (written, published posthumously) Thomas Gray, Agrippina Have not forgot your sire; the eye of Rome And the Prætorian camp have long revered, With customed awe the daughter, sister, wife, And mother of their...
  2. To supply with customers.
    • But yet a man might reply, that if a Shooemaker ſhould haue no Shooes in his Shoppe, but onely worke, as hee is beſpoken, hee ſhould bee weakley cuſtomed. - 1605, Francis Bacon, “The Second Booke”, in The Twoo Bookes of...
  3. To pay the customs of.
    • Barabas, thy ships are safe, Riding in Malta Rhode; and all the merchants With other merchandize are safe arriv'd, And have sent me to know whether yourself Will come and custom them. - c. 1589–1590 (date written),...
  4. To have a custom.
    • For on a Bridge he cuſtometh to fight, / Which is but narrow, but exceeding long; / And in the ſame are many trap fals pight, / Through which the rider downe doth fall through ouerſight. - 1596, Edmund Spenser, “Book V,...

Forms

customs customing customed

Related

consuetude costumal costume customary customer customization customize

Derived

customable uncustomed