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, a garment; esp., a closely fitting garment or dress worn by ladies; as, a riding habit. Costly thy habit as thy purse can buy. Shak. There are, among the states, several of Venus, in different habits. Addison.

Costly; dear in price; extravagant; as, to hold goods at a high price. If they must be good at so high a rate, they know they may be safe at a cheaper. South.

ad, much worn as an ornament of dress. Our English dames are much given to the wearing of costlylaces. Bacon.

A free indulgence in costly food, dress, furniture, or anything expensive which gratifies the appetites or tastes. Riches expose a man to pride and luxury. Spectator.

Made of the stone or material called by the Romans murrha; -- applied to certain costly vases of great beauty and delicacy used by the luxurious in Rome as wine cups; as, murrhine vases, cups, vessels. Murrhine glass, glassware made in imitation of murrhine vases and cups.

See Orichalch. Costly oricalche from strange Phoenice. Spenser.

Of great price; costly; as, a precious stone. "The precious bane." Milton.

Composed of valuable or costly materials or ingredients; procured at great outlay; highly valued; precious; sumptuous; costly; as, a rich dress; rich silk or fur; rich presents. Like to rich and various gems. Milton.

Precious; costly.

Very large, strong, or costly; powerful; as, a stiff charge; a stiff price. [Slang] Stiff neck, a condition of the neck such that the head can not be moved without difficulty and pain.

Involving large outlay or expense; costly; expensive; hence, luxurious; splendid; magnificient; as, a sumptuous house or table; sumptuous apparel. We are too magnificient and sumptuous in our tables and attendance. Atterbury. She spoke, and turned her sumptuous head, with eyes Of shining expectation fixed on mine. Tenn…

An old name for the finest and most costly kind of velvet, having a fine, thick pile. I have served Prince Florizel and in my time wore three-pile. Shak.

Having the quality of three-pile; best; most costly. [R.] Thou art good velvet; thou 'rt three-piled piece. Shak.

as fur for garments, and frequently mentioned by writers of that period in describing the costly dresses of kings, nobles, and prelates. It is represented in heraldry by a series of small shields placed close together, and alternately white and blue. Fairholt. No vair or ermine decked his garment. Sir W. Scott. Counter…

Having value or worth; possessing qualities which are useful and esteemed; precious; costly; as, a valuable horse; valuable land; a valuable cargo.