Searchable Lemmata: habitus (L), habit (AF), habit (ME), abid (W), habit (OScots), habit (MdE).
Alternate Forms: habite, habiz, abit, abite, habitte, habitu, habitum, habitibus.
NOTE(n.) ;
Latin habitus -- from whence vernacular 'abit', 'habit', etc. -- carried many related and overlapping senses, including state (of being), nature, condition; bearing, demeanour (gesture, posture, etc.); outward appearance; as well as dress and items of specified dress as given below, with accompanying figurative and extended senses.
Sex: Male, Female, Infant Ceremonial: No
Body Parts: N/A.
1a(n.)
Other;
clothing, dress; garment; (also figurative). Frequently used to refer to costume indicative or characteristic of a calling, rank, or function (see the following sense).(ante 700 still in current use)
4. [B.3533] ... In kynges habit wente hire sones two ... [B. 3554] ... Biforn his triumphe walketh she With gilte cheynes on hire nekke hangynge ... [B.3558] ... Of rubies, saphires, and of perles [vrr. peerles, Pereles] white Were alle hise clothes brouded vp and doun ... [B.3562] ... Cenobie ... that helmed was in starke stoures And wan by force townes strong and toures, Shal on hire heed now were a vitremyte [vrr. vitrymyte, vytrymyt, vitrmite, vitrymete, vitrenyte, vitrinite, vetremyte, fitermyte, witermite, wyntermyte, wytrymyte, wetremyte, vitryte]; And she that bar the ceptre ful of floures Shal bere a distaf hire cost for to quyte
Poetic.
[MED Chaucer CT.Mk. ((Manly-Rickert) B.3533-62) circa 1375]
Sex: Male, Female Ceremonial: No
Body Parts: N/A.
1b(n.)
Utilisation;
characteristic dress; in particular, attire or garment(s) indicative or characteristic of a calling, rank, or function, particularly of members of a religious or clerical order; the attire of a priest, bishop, canon, nun, hermit, etc.; monastic dress. This sense is found in phrases such as 'habit of religioun' (the robe of a friar, monk or nun), 'habit of frere' (habit of a friar), 'habit of monk', 'habit of nonne' (habit of a nun), 'ladi of habit' (a nun), 'man of habit' (a monk or a friar); [also used figuratively to refer to rank, function, or calling; 'rule of habit' (the monastic rule), 'nimen the habit'/'taken (on) the habit' (to enter monastic life), etc.].
Also used for identifying quasi- or non-ecclesiastic attire or garment(s), including academic and Templar; (L 'habitus saecularis' or similar = non-religious dress).(ante 700 still in current use)
5. minheu a ymchuelaf vyneb y bobyl a'r kyuoeth parth ac attat titheu, ac a baraf dy dynnu o'r abit hvnnv ket boet gvrthvyneb gan yr urdas
[GPC BD (87, 15-18) circa 1250]
6. A phan doeth y chuedleu hynny ar Wenhvyuar urenhines, sef a wnaeth hitheu anobeithav yn uavr, a mynet o Gaer Euravc hyt yg Caer Llion ar Vysc a guisgav amdanei yn uynaches y gyt a'r mynachesseu oed yno yn eglvys Julius Uerthyr, ac arwein eu habit odyna hyt agheu
[GPC BD (183, 25-9) circa 1250]
11. He artid the seyde chanon to do of his overest abygth and to don on a seculer gowne of russet and a Kendale hood ... Willm. Wyndesore ... with other ... the seyde conchanon ... bar owt of the chirche and spoylyd hym hys surplys
Legal.
[MED Proc.Chanc.in Cal.PCEliz. (1.p.xliii) ante 1443]
Sex: Male, Female Ceremonial: No
Body Parts: N/A.
2(n.)
Other;
outward form or appearance; bearing, demeanour; in particular uses, fashion or style of dress.(ante 700 still in current use)
Sex: Male, Female, Infant Ceremonial: No
Body Parts: N/A.
