custom

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”). Doublet of costume and consuetude.

The adjectival form first appears c. 1830.

• IPA^(key): /ˈkʌstəm/

• Audio (US):

  (file)

custom (countable and uncountable, plural customs)

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.

   • c. 1599–1602 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Tragedie of Hamlet, Prince of Denmarke”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies  (First Folio), London: Isaac Iaggard, and Ed Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, :

     A custom
     More honour'd in the breach than the observance.

   • 1611, The Holy Bible,  (King James Version), London: Robert Barker, , →OCLC, Acts 16:20-21:

     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.

   • a. 1627 (date written), Francis Bacon, “A.D. 1610. Ætat. 50.”, in James Spedding, editor, The Works of Francis Bacon, : The Letters and the Life of Francis Bacon , volume IV, London: Longmans, Green, Reader, and Dyer, published 1858, →OCLC, page 194:

     For first Mr. Dier's opinion was that the ancient custom for exportation was by the common laws; and goeth furder, that that ancient custom was the custom upon wools, woolfells, and leather.

   • 1847, Alfred Tennyson, “Part 6”, in The Princess: A Medley, London: Edward Moxon, , →OCLC:

     Moved beyond his custom, Gama said

2. (dated outside UK) Habitual buying of goods from one same vendor.
   • 1710 September 28, Joseph Addison, The Whig Examiner, number 3:

     Let him have your custom, but not your votes.

   1. (collectively) The habitual patrons (i.e. customers) of a business; business support.
3. (law) Long-established practice, considered as unwritten law, and resting for authority on long consent. Compare prescription.

   Synonym: usage

   • 1888, Francis Wharton, A Commentary on the Law of Evidence in Civil Issues, 3rd edition, volume 2, page 188:

     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.

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.
   • 2019 May 31, Abella Art & Design, tweet:

     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

   • 2020 July 28, “Paying for porn: How much is appropriate?”, in Slate Magazine:

     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.

6. (obsolete) Familiar acquaintance; familiarity.
   • c. 1606–1607 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Tragedie of Anthonie and Cleopatra”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies  (First Folio), London: Isaac Iaggard, and Ed Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, :

     Age can not wither her, nor custom stale
     Her infinite variety.

7. (archaic, uncountable) Toll, tax, or tribute.
   • 1769, Bible, Authorised King James Version, Oxford standard text, Romans, xiii, 7:

     Render therefore to all their dues: tribute to whom tribute is due; custom to whom custom; fear to whom fear; honour to whom honour.

custom (not comparable)

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.

   Synonym: bespoke (chiefly Commonwealth)

   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.

2. Own, personal, not standard or premade.

   We can embroider a wide range of ready designs or a custom logo.

3. (archaic) Accustomed; usual.

• Thesaurus:custom-made

custom (third-person singular simple present customs, present participle customing, simple past and past participle customed)

1. (transitive, obsolete) 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 Cæsars

2. (transitive, obsolete) To supply with customers.
   • 1605, Francis Bacon, “The Second Booke”, in The Twoo Bookes of Francis Bacon. Of the Proficience and Aduancement of Learning, Diuine and Humane, London: ">…] for Henrie Tomes, , →OCLC, folio 52, recto:

     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.

3. (transitive, obsolete) To pay the customs of.
   • c. 1589–1590 (date written), Christopher Marlo, edited by Tho Heywood, The Famous Tragedy of the Rich Iew of Malta. , London: I B for Nicholas Vavasour, , published 1633, →OCLC, Act I:

     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.

4. (intransitive, obsolete) To have a custom.
   • 1596, Edmund Spenser, “Book V, Canto II”, in The Faerie Queene. , part II (books IV–VI), London: ">…] for William Ponsonby, →OCLC, stanza 7, page 198:

     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.

• “custom”, in Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary, Springfield, Mass.: G. & C. Merriam, 1913, →OCLC.
• William Dwight Whitney, Benjamin E Smith, editors (1911), “custom”, in The Century Dictionary , New York, N.Y.: The Century Co., →OCLC.