Search the Dictionary

The usual condition or state of a person or thing, either natural or acquired, regarded as something had, possessed, and firmly retained; as, a religious habit; his habit is morose; elms have a spreading habit; esp., physical temperament or constitution; as, a full habit of body.

Formed or acquired by habit or use. An habitual knowledge of certain rules and maxims. South.

Etym: [OE. halen, halien; cf. AS. holian, to acquire, get. See Haul.]

To become hard or harder; to acquire solidity, or more compactness; as, mortar hardens by drying. The deliberate judgment of those who knew him [A. Lincoln] has hardened into tradition. The Century.

f acquiring ownership of it under provisions of the homestead law, so called; one who has acquired a homestead in this manner. [Local, U.S.]

A willful neglect or refusal to acquire knowledge which one may acquire and it is his duty to have. Book of Common Prayer. Invincible ignorance (Theol.), ignorance beyond the individual's control and for which, therefore, he is not responsible before God.

The aititude through which a heavy body must fall to acquire a velocity equal to that with which a ball is discharged from a piece.

ivileges of a recognized inhabitant; especially, the right to support in case of poverty, acquired by residence in a town; habitancy.

To receive or take by birth; to have by nature; to derive or acquire from ancestors, as mental or physical qualities; as, he inherits a strong constitution, a tendency to disease, etc. Prince Harry is valiant; for the cold blood he did naturally inherit of his father he hath . . . manured . . . with good store of ferti…

Originating in, or derived from, the constitution of the intellect, as opposed to acquired from experience; as, innate ideas. See A priori, Intuitive. There is an innate light in every man, discovering to him the first lines of duty in the common notions of good and evil. South. Men would not be guilty if they did not…

Knowledge imparted or acquired, whether by study, research, or experience; general information. I write as he that none intelligence Of meters hath, nCourt of Love.

ablishment by long continuance; firmness or deep-rooted obstinacy of any quality or state acquired by time; as, the inveteracy of custom, habit, or disease; -- usually in a bad sense; as, the inveteracy of prejudice or of error. An inveteracy of evil habits that will prompt him to contract more. A. Tucker.…

That power or faculty by which knowledge dependent upon comparison and discrimination is acquired. See 2. A judgment is the mental act by which one thing is affirmed or denied of another. Sir W. Hamilton. The power by which we are enabled to perceive what is true or false, probable or improbable, is called by logicians…

a jumper. To jump a claim, to enter upon and take possession of land to which another has acquired a claim by prior entry and occupation. [Western U. S. & Australia] See Claim, n., 3. -- To jump one's bail, to abscond while at liberty under bail bonds. [Slang, U. S.]

A large New Zealand parrot (Nestor notabilis), notorious for having acquired the habit of killing sheep; -- called also mountain parrot.

quiry, study, or investigation; to receive instruction concerning; to fix in the mind; to acquire understanding of, or skill; as, to learn the way; to learn a lesson; to learn dancing; to learn to skate; to learn the violin; to learn the truth about something. "Learn to do well." Is. i. 17. Now learn a parable of the f…

The knowledge or skill received by instruction or study; acquired knowledge or ideas in any branch of science or literature; erudition; literature; science; as, he is a man of great learning. Book learning. See under Book.

To be maintained in life; to acquire a livelihood; to subsist; -- with on or by; as, to live on spoils. Those who live by labor. Sir W. Temple.

ses. Luster ware, earthenware decorated by applying to the glazing metallic oxides, which acquire brilliancy in the process of baking.

e of certain large sharks (esp. Carcharodon Rondeleti); also, a lion or a tiger which has acquired the habit of feeding upon human flesh.