# custom
## English
### Etymology

* PIE word
* *ḱóm
* PIE word
* *swé
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.
Adjective form circa 1830.

### Pronunciation

* IPA: /ˈkʌstəm/
* Audio (US):(file)

### Noun

custom (countable and uncountable, plural customs)
* Frequent repetition of the same behavior; way of behavior common to many; ordinary manner; habitual practice; method of doing, living or behaving.
** 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[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act I, scene iv]: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
* (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.
** (collectively) The habitual patrons (i.e. customers) of a business; business support.
* (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.
* Traditional beliefs or rituals.
    The Ancient Egyptian culture had many distinctive and interesting beliefs and customs; one custom was the mummification of the dead.
* 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.
* (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[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act II, scene ii]:Age can not wither her, nor custom stale Her infinite variety.
* (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.

#### Synonyms

* fashion
* folkway
* habit
* practice
* usage
* wone
* wont

#### Derived terms

* custom and practice
* custom-built
* custom car
* custom house
* customless
* custom vehicle
* grow a custom
* heir by custom
* suit custom
* take one's custom elsewhere
* Ulster custom

#### Translations
### Adjective

custom (not comparable)
* 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.
* Own, personal, not standard or premade.
    We can embroider a wide range of ready designs or a custom logo.
* (archaic) Accustomed; usual.

#### Derived terms

* customly
* custom-made
* custom made
* noncustom

#### See also

* Thesaurus:custom-made

### Verb

custom (third-person singular simple present customs, present participle customing, simple past and past participle customed)
* (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
* (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: […] [Thomas Purfoot and Thomas Creede] 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.
* (transitive, obsolete) To pay the customs of.
** c. 1589–1590 (date written), Christopher Marlo[we], edited by Tho[mas] Heywood, The Famous Tragedy of the Rich Iew of Malta. […], London: […] I[ohn] B[eale] 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.
* (intransitive, obsolete) To have a custom.
** 1596, Edmund Spenser, “Book V, Canto II”, in The Faerie Queene. […], part II (books IV–VI), London: […] [Richard Field] 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.

#### Derived terms

* customable
* uncustomed

#### Related terms

* consuetude
* costumal
* costume
* customary
* customer
* customization
* customize

### Further reading

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