释义 |
cus·tom I. \ˈkəstəm\ noun (-s) Etymology: Middle English custume, custom, costome, from Old French custume, costume, from Latin consuetudin-, consuetudo, from consuetus, past participle of consuescere to accustom, from com- + suescere to become accustomed, accustom; akin to Latin suus one's own — more at suicide 1. a. : a form or course of action characteristically repeated under like circumstances : a usage or practice that is common to many or to a particular place or class or is habitual with an individual < one of the many gracious customs of the late Queen — G.W.Talbot > b. (1) : long-established, continued, peaceable, reasonable, certain, and constant practice considered as unwritten law and resting for authority on long consent : a usage that has by long continuance acquired a legally binding force (2) : the usage of a country or particular locality having the force of law in that country or locality < the custom of London > c. : repeated practice < custom makes all things easy — Jean Ingelow > d. : the whole body of usages, practices, or conventions that regulate social life : usual manner and method of living and doing : social habit < the icy chains of custom — P.B.Shelley > — compare folkway 2. obsolete : a due or rent in money, in kind, or in services that a feudal tenant was bound to render to his lord : the obligation to render or right to receive such due or rent 3. customs plural a. : duties, tolls, or imposts imposed by the sovereign law of a country or commodities imported into or exported from the country — compare rate b. usually singular in construction : the agency, establishment, or procedure for collecting such customs 4. a. : business patronage : personal and often habitual patronage of an establishment : habit of purchasing or buying services : amount of business < the town shopkeepers sought his custom — Adrian Bell > < paying personal calls on likely firms to try to obtain their custom — F.W.Crofts > b. : customers < the custom liked the new line > 5. : celebration; especially : a celebration formerly held by the Dahomeans and Ashanti and attended with much human sacrifice 6. : a custom-built automobile Synonyms: see habit II. transitive verb (-ed/-ing/-s) Etymology: Middle English customen, from Middle French costumer, from costume custom 1. archaic : accustom 2. obsolete : to deal with as a customer III. adjective Etymology: custom (I) 1. a. : made or performed according to personal order usually to individual specifications < preferred custom suits and luxurious cars > < a custom set of silver > b. : performed or effected by an owner of machinery or facilities according to special personal order < the custom work I did for the neighbors with the tractor plowing and with the cornpicker picking corn — John Dos Passos > < doing custom smelting for small companies > < began the custom manufacture of agricultural chemicals > 2. : specializing in custom work or operation < a custom tailor > < a custom cabinetmaker > < a custom sawmill > |