A Nun's Habit and a Bad Habit Are the Same Word
A habit is a settled tendency. It also names a monastic garment, and both come from a Latin word meaning to have or hold.
A habit is a settled or regular tendency, and also the distinctive dress of a religious order. Both come from Latin *habitus*, meaning a condition or a way of holding oneself, from *habere*, to have. Clothing showed your condition in life, so a nun's habit and a habit of mind are two applications of the same idea: what you hold and how you hold it. A *riding habit* is a woman's tailored riding outfit, keeping the clothing sense.
- A settled tendency. *A bad habit.*
- A religious garment. *A nun's habit.*
- A riding outfit. *A riding habit.*
- Habitual — done regularly. *A habitual latecomer.*
- Latin — *habere*, to have. *The source.*
Word forms
| Form | Word | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Noun | habit | An old habit. |
| Plural | habits | Bad habits. |
| Adjective | habitual | Habitual behaviour. |
| Verb | inhabit | Inhabit a place. |
| Latin | habitus | Condition, dress. |
- Biting your nails is a hard habit to break.Behaviour.
- The order still wears the traditional habit.Dress.
- Habitus meant condition or bearing.Etymology.
The habere family
- Habit — what you have or hold, as behaviour or dress
- Inhabit — to have a place as your dwelling
- Habitat — where a species lives
- Able — from *habilis*, easy to hold or handle
- Exhibit — to hold out for showing
Latin *habitus*, condition, bearing or dress, from *habere*, to have or hold. English took both senses from Old French.
Why is a nun's garment called a habit?
Because Latin habitus meant a person's condition or bearing, including their dress. Clothing signalled your state in life.
Are habit and habitat related?
Yes. Both come from Latin habere, to have or hold. A habitat is where a species holds its place.