costume

Meanings

1. 1
   noun

   A set of clothes worn to look like someone or something else, often for fun.

   We wore gorilla costumes to the party.

2. 2
   noun

   The clothes worn by actors in a play or film.

   She won the prize for the best costume in the school play.

3. 3
   noun

   The traditional clothing of a particular country, time, or people.

   The dancers wore the national costume of their region.

4. 4
   verb

   To dress someone in a costume.

   The actors were costumed as soldiers from the medieval period.

Appears in

Simplified etymology

Costume entered English in the late 17th century and ultimately shares its origin with custom in Latin consuetudo “custom, habit.” It first referred to the decor and clothing considered appropriate in a painting of a historical subject.

Borrowed from French costume, from Italian costume, from Latin consuētūdō (“custom, habit”). Doublet of consuetude, custom, and kastom. Verb circa 1802, perhaps modelled on French costumer.

Topics

External links

• Google Images
• Cambridge Dictionary
• Wiktionary