Showing posts with label costume. Show all posts
Showing posts with label costume. Show all posts

Wednesday, October 31, 2012

costume, custom

Costume or costume means an outfit worn to pretend to be someone or something else--
You won't recognize him in his Halloween costume.
We couldn't find a pirate costume, so we'll have to make one.
Costume is also an old-fashioned term for any outfit of clothes--
She looked quaint in her old-fashioned costume.

Custom or custom means a traditional or usual way of doing things--
Bobbing for apples is an old custom.
The local custom is to leave the lights on for the trick-or-treaters.
Custom also means trade or patronage--
If this store doesn't have what I want, I will take my custom elsewhere.
Custom also means made-to-order or made-to-measure--
He had a suit custom-made, and looked very sophisticated.
We will have to order some custom-made drapes, because nothing in the stores is the right size.

 Now that you know that, you can say--
"In America, it is a Halloween custom to wear a costume and go trick-or-treating."

Note--"accustom" ( one word ) means to be used to, or familiar with--
The teacher gave short assignments often, to help accustom the students to regular homework.
Not to be confused with "a custom" ( two words ), meaning a traditional or usual way of doing things--
Our neighbors have a custom of sitting outside on Halloween night.
Note # 2--a "customer" means someone who patronizes a store or business--
"The customer is always right."
Not to be confused with a "costumer", who makes costumes, for the stage, the movies, or for a special event--
The costumer said that our gowns would be ready by the weekend.