General customs

Custom Cus"tom (k[u^]s"t[u^]m), 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]

Note: 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]