Also 4–7 conswe-. [a. OF. consuetude, ad. L. consuētūdo, short for consuēti-tūdo, f. consuētus: see -TUDE. (The inherited form of the L. word was OF. coustume CUSTOM.]
1. Custom, usage, habit. (Chiefly in Sc. use.)
1382. Wyclif, 1 Kings xx. 25. Whanne the kyng hadde sitten vpon his chayer after the consuetude.
c. 1400. Lanfranc’s Cirurg., 51. Late him blood if alle particuler þingis acorden as vertu, age, conplexioun & consuetude.
1432–50. trans. Higden (Rolls), I. 407. The consuetude is of Walche men to ȝiffe water to theire gestes to drynke.
1503. Hawes, Examp. Virt., iv. 43. To haunte armes was theyr consuetude.
1558. Knox, First Blast (Arb.), 47. Long consuetude and custome … haue established their authoritie.
1689. trans. Buchanan’s De Jure Regni, 10. Exercitation and consuetude did the same more sagaciously.
1831. Sir W. Hamilton, Discuss. (1852), 478. The word was originally not of English but of European consuetude.
1881. Blackie, Lay Serm., ix. 320. To adjust themselves according to the consuetude and the convenience of time and place.
b. esp. Custom recognized as having legal force; the unwritten law of custom; use and wont.
1384. Charter of Lond., in Arnolde, Chron., 35. Notwithstonding … conswetude or dome vpon suche maner charturs yeuen.
1496. Dives & Paup., VII. xv. (W. de W.), 301/2. Consuetude or custome in lawe posytyue that is mannes lawe is exposytour & termynour of the lawe.
1535. Stewart, Cron. Scot. (1858), I. 195. Be na caus … that he culd knaw Of consuetude or ȝit be writtin law.
c. 1575. Sir J. Balfour, Practicks (1754), 42. Thay sall keip the lawis and consuetudes of the burgh.
1609. Skene, Reg. Maj., 37. Ane Earle, or any man allegeand him to haue the liberties or consuetudes of ane Earle.
1853. Cdl. Wiseman, Ess., II. 176. The subjection to, or exemption from, jurisdiction, so completely depended upon consuetude.
2. Familiarity; social intercourse. [So in Latin.]
1803. W. Taylor, in Ann. Rev., I. 440. Nor would Ariovistus have needed a long consuetude to acquire it [the Belgic language].
1841–4. Emerson, Ess., Prud., Wks. (Bohn), I. 101. The sweetness of those affections and consuetudes that grow near us.
