habit
UK[ˈhæbɪt]US[ˈhæbɪt]
n
a thing that you do often and almost without thinking, especially something that is hard to stop doing
n
a long piece of clothing worn by a monk or nun
Etymology
The word 'habit' entered English in the 13th century via Old French 'abit' or 'habit', which itself derived from the Latin 'habitus', meaning 'condition, demeanor, appearance, dress'. This Latin noun stems from the verb 'habere', meaning 'to have, to hold, to consider'. The core semantic journey is from the literal sense of 'having' or 'holding' a particular condition or appearance, to the more abstract concept of a regular practice or attire that one 'has'. Thus, the modern meanings—a settled tendency and a distinctive garment—both evolved from this original notion of a possessed state or characteristic.
Analysis
The word 'habit' is a simplex loanword from Latin. It does not contain separable, meaningful morphemes within its modern English spelling.
Examples
She has a habit of biting her nails when she's nervous.
It's a good habit to review your notes after each class.
The nun wore a simple brown habit.