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American Heritage Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This

cus·tom       (kŭs'təm)  Pronunciation Key  n.   A practice followed by people of a particular group or region. A habitual practice of a person: my custom of reading a little before sleep. See Synonyms at habit. Law A common tradition or usage so long established that it has the force or validity of law. Habitual patronage, as of a store. Habitual customers; patrons. Duties or taxes imposed on imported and, less commonly, exported goods. (used with a sing. verb) The governmental agency authorized to collect these duties. (used with a sing. verb) The procedure for inspecting goods and baggage entering a country. customs Duties or taxes imposed on imported and, less commonly, exported goods. (used with a sing. verb) The governmental agency authorized to collect these duties. (used with a sing. verb) The procedure for inspecting goods and baggage entering a country. Tribute, service, or rent paid by a feudal tenant to a lord. adj.   Made to order. Specializing in the making or selling of made-to-order goods: a custom tailor. [Middle English custume, from Old French costume, from Latin cōnsuētūdō, cōnsuētūdin-, from cōnsuētus, past participle of cōnsuēscere, to accustom : com-, intensive pref.; see com- + suēscere, to become accustomed; see s(w)e- in Indo-European roots.]

Online Etymology Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This
custom 

WordNet - Cite This Source - Share This

custom
adjective
1.	made according to the specifications of an individual [syn: custom-made] [ant: ready-made]
noun
1.	accepted or habitual practice
2.	a specific practice of long standing
3.	money collected under a tariff [syn: customs]
4.	habitual patronage; "I have given this tailor my custom for many years"

Merriam-Webster's Dictionary of Law - Cite This Source - Share This
Main Entry: cus·tom
Function: noun
1 : a practice common to many or to a particular place or institution; especially : a long-established practice that is generally recognized as having the force of law —see also SECTION 1983 —compare USAGE
2 plural a : duties, tolls, or imposts imposed by the law of a country on imports or exports bFunction: usually singular in construction
: the agency, establishment, or procedure for collecting such customs

Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This

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.]

1. Frequent repetition of the same act; way of acting common to many; ordinary manner; habitual practice; usage; method of doing or living.

And teach customs which are not lawful. --Acts xvi. 21.

Moved beyond his custom, Gama said. --Tennyson.

A custom More honored in the breach than the observance. --Shak.

2. Habitual buying of goods; practice of frequenting, as a shop, manufactory, etc., for making purchases or giving orders; business support.

Let him have your custom, but not your votes. --Addison.

3. (Law) Long-established practice, considered as unwritten law, and resting for authority on long consent; usage. See Usage, and Prescription.

Note: Usage is a fact. Custom is a law. There can be no custom without usage, though there may be usage without custom. --Wharton.

4. Familiar aquaintance; familiarity. [Obs.]

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

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.

Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This

Custom

Cus"tom\, v. t. [Cf. OF. costumer. Cf. Accustom.]

1. To make familiar; to accustom. [Obs.] --Gray.

2. To supply with customers. [Obs.] --Bacon.

Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This

Custom

Cus"tom\, v. i. To have a custom. [Obs.]

On a bridge he custometh to fight. --Spenser.

Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This

Custom

Cus"tom\, n. [OF. coustume, F. coutume, tax, i. e., the usual tax. See 1st Custom.]

1. The customary toll, tax, or tribute.

Render, therefore, to all their dues: tribute to whom tribute is due; custom to whom custom. --Rom. xiii. 7.

2. pl. Duties or tolls imposed by law on commodities, imported or exported.

Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This

Custom

Cus"tom\, v. t. To pay the customs of. [Obs.] --Marlowe.

Easton's 1897 Bible Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This

Custom

a tax imposed by the Romans. The tax-gatherers were termed publicans (q.v.), who had their stations at the gates of cities, and in the public highways, and at the place set apart for that purpose, called the "receipt of custom" (Matt.9: 9; Mark 2:14), where they collected the money that was to be paid on certain goods (Matt.17:25). These publicans were tempted to exact more from the people than was lawful, and were, in consequence of their extortions, objects of great hatred. The Pharisees would have no intercourse with them (Matt.5:46, 47; 9:10, 11). A tax or tribute (q.v.) of half a shekel was annually paid by every adult Jew for the temple. It had to be paid in Jewish coin (Matt. 22:17-19; Mark 12:14, 15). Money-changers (q.v.) were necessary, to enable the Jews who came up to Jerusalem at the feasts to exchange their foreign coin for Jewish money; but as it was forbidden by the law to carry on such a traffic for emolument (Deut. 23:19, 20), our Lord drove them from the temple (Matt. 21:12: Mark 11:15).