general customs

1 definition found

general customs - Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 :

  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.]
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     1. Frequent repetition of the same act; way of acting common
        to many; ordinary manner; habitual practice; usage; method
        of doing or living.
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              And teach customs which are not lawful. --Acts xvi.
                                                    21.
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              Moved beyond his custom, Gama said.   --Tennyson.
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              A custom
              More honored in the breach than the observance.
                                                    --Shak.
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     2. Habitual buying of goods; practice of frequenting, as a
        shop, manufactory, etc., for making purchases or giving
        orders; business support.
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              Let him have your custom, but not your votes.
                                                    --Addison.
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     3. (Law) Long-established practice, considered as unwritten
        law, and resting for authority on long consent; usage. See
        Usage, and Prescription.
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     Note: Usage is a fact. Custom is a law. There can be no
           custom without usage, though there may be usage without
           custom. --Wharton.
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     4. Familiar aquaintance; familiarity. [Obs.]
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              Age can not wither her, nor custom stale
              Her infinite variety.                 --Shak.
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     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.
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