Habitual Meaning
/həˈbɪ.tʃʊ.əl/Definition, CEFR level C1, pronunciation, examples, and quiz.
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Definition
adjOf or relating to a habit; established as a habit; performed over and over again; recurrent, recurring.
adjRegular or usual.
Sentence Examples
Grandfather sat in his habitual place near the fire.
Sami was a habitual cheater.
Synonyms & Antonyms
Synonyms:
Antonyms:
CEFR Practice Quiz
Due to his ____ lateness, his boss became extremely angry.
CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)
He was a ____ liar who found it almost impossible to tell the truth, even in the most simple situations.
Word Origin & History
The adjective is derived from Late Middle English habitual (“of one's inherent disposition”), from Medieval Latin habituālis (“customary; habitual”), from Latin habitus (“character; disposition; habit; physical or emotional condition; attire, dress”) + -ālis (suffix forming adjectives of relationship); analysable as habit + -ual. Habitus is derived from habeō (“to have; to hold; to own; to possess”) (possibly ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *gʰeh₁bʰ- (“to grab, take”)) + -tus (suffix forming action nouns from verbs). The noun is derived from the adjective.
Literary Quotations & Historical Citations
"Thomas Aquinas attributeth preparation vnto free-vvill, but not conuerſion. Now this preparation hee thus coloureth, that it is indeed a furtherance to the habituall grace of cõuersion, but yet through the free aſsiſtance of God mouing vs inwardly."
— 1617, Zacharias Ursinus, “Quest. 90. What is the Quickning of the New Man?”, in Henrie Parrie [i.e., Henry Parry], David Pareus, transl., The Svmme of Christian Religion, Deliuered Zacharias Vrsinvs in His Lectures vpon the Catechisme, […] Translated into English […], and Lately Conferred with the Last and Best Latine Edition […], London: Imprinted by H. L. and are to be sold by Arthur Iohnson, […], →OCLC, 3rd part (Of Mans Thankefulnes), section 4 (What are the Causes of Conuersion), page 861:
"I vvas baptized in thy Cordiall vvater, againſt Original ſinne, and I haue drunke of thy Cordiall Blood, for my recouerie, from actuall, and habituall ſinne, in the other Sacrament."
— 1624, John Donne, “11. Prayer.”, in Deuotions upon Emergent Occasions, and Seuerall Steps in My Sicknes: […], London: […] A[ugustine] M[atthews] for Thomas Iones, →OCLC, pages 280–281:
"There is an actual Grace removing the Power of ſin, before habitual or ſanctifying Grace, the [Holy] Spirit doing it immediately by an omnipotent act, by that which is called actuating moving Grace; Chriſt can and muſt firſt bind the ſtrong man and caſt him out by this working or actual Grace, before he dwels in the houſe of mans heart by habitual and ſanctifying Grace: [...]"
— 1655, Rich[ard] Baxter, “Sect. III. The Testimony of Reformed Divines Ascribing as Much to Works as I: And Many of Them Delivering the Same Doctrine.”, in Rich[ard] Baxter’s Confesssion [sic] of His Faith, Especially Concerning the Interest of Repentance and Sincere Obedience to Christ, in Our Justification & Salvation. […], London: Printed by R[obert] W[hite] for Tho[mas] Underhil and Fra[ncis] Tyton, […], →OCLC, page 421:
"The Night-Mare is either Accidental or Habitual. [...] The Habitual is occaſioned by ſome Acid Lymph that diſorders the Spirits and Creates a Paralytic or Convulſive Diſpoſition of the Nerves of the Middriff and Muſcles of the Breast; which by conſent Cramp thoſe of the Wind-Pipe, whoſe Contraction raiſes a ſenſe of ſtrangling, and aboliſhes the power of an Articulate Voice."
— 1703, Michael Etmullerus [i.e., Michael Ettmüller], “Sect. XIV. Of Diseases Relating to the Lungs and Organs of Respiration.”, in Etmullerus Abridg’d: Or, A Compleat System of the Theory and Practice of Physic. […] Translated from the Last Edition of the Works […], 2nd corrected and much improved edition, London: Printed for Andrew Bell […], and Richard Wellington, […], →OCLC, 1st book, chapter II (Of Inspiration Deprav’d, or Difficult Breathing), article III (Of the Night Mare), page 144:
"But by a long and habitual courſe of giving way to evil tempers, and indulging ſinful paſſions, a perſon may be ſo blinded thereby as not to ſee the evil thereof, and ſo hardened therein as not to feel the bad effects of them."
— 1774, W[illiam] Mason, An Affectionate Address to Passionate Professors: Shewing the Blessedness of a Meek and Quiet Spirit: The Evil of Giving Way to Bad Tempers and Sinful Passions; And Pointing Out Some Remedies for Subduing Them, London: Printed for the author; and sold by M. Lewis, […]; and J. Mathews, […], →OCLC, page 11:
Explore More C1 Vocabulary Words
CEFR Practice Quiz
Due to his ____ lateness, his boss became extremely angry.
CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)
He was a ____ liar who found it almost impossible to tell the truth, even in the most simple situations.