a colony or settlement; community: Each of the scattered habitations consisted of a small number of huts.
Origin: 1325–75; ME (h)abitacioun (< AF) < L habitātiōn- (s. of habitātiō) a dwelling, equiv. to habitāt(us) inhabited (ptp. of habitāre;see habitat) + -iōn--ion
c.1374, from O.Fr. habitation "act of dwelling," from L. habitationem (nom. habitatio) "act of dwelling," from habitare (see habitat). Habitable (1388) is from O.Fr. habitable, from L. habitabilis "that is fit to live in," from habitare.
Main Entry: hab·i·ta·tion Pronunciation: "ha-b&-'tA-sh&n Function: noun 1 a: the act of occupying or inhabiting bin the civil law of Louisiana: the right of a person to dwell in the house of another 2: a dwelling place
[hab-i-tey-shuh
n] 