PIE word
PIE word

From Middle English custume, borrowed from Anglo-Norman custume, from Old French coustume, from a Vulgar Latin *cōnsuētūmen or *costūmen, from Latin cōnsuētūdinem, accusative singular of cōnsuētūdō (custom, habit), from cōnsuēscō (accustom, habituate), from con- (with) + suēscō (become used or accustomed to). First element con- derives from cum, from Old Latin com, from Proto-Italic *kom, from Proto-Indo-European *ḱóm (with, along). Second element suēscō is from Proto-Indo-European *swe-dʰh₁-sk-, from *swé (self) + *dʰeh₁- (to put, place, set); related to Latin suus (one's own, his own). Displaced native Middle English wune, wone (custom, habit, practice) (from Old English wuna (custom, habit, practice, rite)), Middle English side, sid (custom) (from Old English sidu, sido (custom, note, manner)), Middle English cure (custom, choice, preference) (from Old English cyre (choice, choosing, free will)). Doublet of costume and consuetude.

Adjective form circa 1830.


  • IPA(key): /ˈkʌstəm/
  • (file)


custom (countable and uncountable, plural customs)

  2. Traditional beliefs or rituals
    The Ancient Egyptian culture had many distinctive and interesting beliefs and customs.
  3. (UK) Habitual buying of goods; practice of frequenting, as a shop, factory, etc., for making purchases or giving orders; business support.
    • September 28, 1710, Joseph Addison, The Whig Examiner No. 3
      Let him have your custom, but not your votes.
  4. (law) Long-established practice, considered as unwritten law, and resting for authority on long consent. Compare prescription.
    Synonym: usage
    • 1888, Wharton, Francis, A Commentary on the Law of Evidence in Civil Issues, volume 2, third edition, 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.
  5. (obsolete) Familiar acquaintance; familiarity.
  6. (archaic, uncountable) Toll, tax, or tribute.
    • 1769, Bible, Authorised King James Version, Oxford standard text, Romans, xiii, 7:




custom (not comparable)

    My feet are very large, so I need custom shoes.
  2. Own, personal, not standard or premade.
  3. (archaic) Accustomed; usual.

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  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.
  3. (transitive, obsolete) To pay the customs of.
    • 1589 or 1590, Christopher Marlowe, The Jew of Malta, Act I, lines 54-58:
      Barabas, thy ships are safe,
      Riding in Malta-road; and all the merchants
      With other merchandise are safe arriv'd,
      And have sent me to know whether yourself
      Will come and custom them.
  4. (intransitive, obsolete) To have a custom.

Related termsEdit

Further readingEdit