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Fine Dictionary

costume

ˈkɑstum
WordNet
Portrait of Elizabeth I (1533-1603), Queen of England. Bust to the left, in full costume. Part of the collection of portrait miniatures.
Portrait of Elizabeth I (1533-1603), Queen of England. Bust to the left, in full costume. Part of the collection of portrait miniatures.
  1. (v) costume
    dress in a costume "We dressed up for Halloween as pumpkins"
  2. (v) costume
    furnish with costumes; as for a film or play
  3. (n) costume
    the attire worn in a play or at a fancy dress ball "he won the prize for best costume"
  4. (n) costume
    the attire characteristic of a country or a time or a social class "he wore his national costume"
  5. (n) costume
    unusual or period attire not characteristic of or appropriate to the time and place "in spite of the heat he insisted on his woolen costume"
  6. (n) costume
    the prevalent fashion of dress (including accessories and hair style as well as garments)
Illustrations
National types and costumes
In an Italianate landscape, some hunters, dressed in distinguished costume, stop at the ruins of an ancient Roman building. A young beggar, sitting next to one of the pillars, has a hat in his hand, hoping to receive alms. In the foreground, a boy in a red hunting costume stands in bright light in front of a monumental gate. He is accompanied by three dogs. He holds a folded hunting net in his hands. A blue hunting bag and the catch of the day - a hare, a heron and two partridges - lie at his feet.
In an Italianate landscape, some hunters, dressed in distinguished costume, stop at the ruins of an ancient Roman building. A young beggar, sitting next to one of the pillars, has a hat in his hand, hoping to receive alms. In the foreground, a boy in a red hunting costume stands in bright light in front of a monumental gate. He is accompanied by three dogs. He holds a folded hunting net in his hands. A blue hunting bag and the catch of the day - a hare, a heron and two partridges - lie at his feet.
Farmer's Shrove Tuesday. A procession of costumed people cross a stone bridge in a village. In the foreground two fighting farmers, on the left some figures on the ice.
Farmer's Shrove Tuesday
The textile manufactures and the costumes of the people of India
Portrait of Rembrandt's son Titus in a monk's costume, possibly depicted as Saint Francis of Assisi. Seated, half-length, to the left.
Titus in a monk's costume
Portrait of Isaac Jan Alexander Gogel, Minister of Finance, sitting in a chair, in the costume of the Council of State, a document in hand. Adorned with the large cross of the Order of the Reunion, the Officer's Cross of that Order and the Officer's Cross of the Legion of Honor.
Isaac Jan Alexander Gogel (1765-1821).Minister of Finance
Seated young woman in the costume of a peasant girl. Probably a portrait of Gesina ter Borch, the painter's half-sister. In the right hand a printed sheet of paper.
Seated young woman in the costume of a peasant girl.Probably Gesina (1631-1690), half-sister of the painter
Photo reproduction of a print, depicting a portrait of an unknown woman in traditional costume
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary
Interesting fact
A female pharaoh was unknown in Egypt before Hatshepsut, who had herself portrayed in male costume, with a beard and without breasts.
  1. Costume
    A character dress, used at fancy balls or for dramatic purposes.
  2. Costume
    Dress in general; esp., the distinctive style of dress of a people, class, or period.
  3. Costume
    Such an arrangement of accessories, as in a picture, statue, poem, or play, as is appropriate to the time, place, or other circumstances represented or described. "I began last night to read Walter Scott's Lay of the Last Minstrel . . . .I was extremely delighted with the poetical beauty of some parts . . . .The costume , too, is admirable."
Century Dictionary and Cyclopedia
Interesting fact
The first Michelin Man costume (Bidenbum) was worn by none other than Col. Harlan Sanders of Kentucky Fried Chicken fame.
  1. (n) costume
    An obsolete form of custom.
  2. (n) costume
    Custom or usage with respect to place and time, as represented in art or literature; distinctive character or habit in action, appearance, dress, etc.; hence, keeping or congruity in representation.
  3. (n) costume
    Mode of dressing; external dress. Specifically— An established mode or custom in dress; the style of dress peculiar to a people, tribe, or nation, to a particular period, or to a particular character, profession, or class of people.
  4. costume
    To dress; furnish with a costume; provide appropriate dress for: as, to costume a play; “costumed in black,”
  5. costume
    Reflexively, to put an unusual dress on; dress for a special occasion.
Chambers's Twentieth Century Dictionary
Interesting fact
Nearly 10% of American households dress their pets in Halloween costumes.
  1. (n) Costume
    kos-tūm′ or kos′tūm the manner of dressing prevalent at a particular period or place: dress, esp. a woman's dress
  2. (v.t) Costume
    to dress
  3. (n) Costume
    kos-tūm′ or kos′tūm, the manner of dressing prevalent at a particular period or place: dress, esp. a woman's dress
Quotations
Ralph Waldo Emerson
The arts and inventions of each period are only its costume, and do not invigorate men.
Ralph Waldo Emerson
You cannot climb the ladder of success dressed in the costume of failure.
Zig Ziglar
People don't change. Only their costumes do.
Gene Moorse
Thomas Carlyle
If the cut of the costume indicates intellect and talent, then the color indicates temper and heart.
Thomas Carlyle
Etymology

Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary F. costume, It. costume, custom, dress, fr. L. consuetumen,not found), for consuetudo, custom. See Custom, and cf. Consuetude

Chambers's Twentieth Century Dictionary Fr.,—It.,—Low L. costuma—L. consuetudo, custom.

Usage in the news

Your sweet dog might sulk, if you wrap her in a pink unicorn costume with a riding princess doll. al.com

Simonne Garritues dazzles costumed patrons at Shadowland Bar & Restaurant on Halloween night. estseattleherald.com

Police in Alabama were called to what looked like a woman shot dead in her car but found a Halloween reveler they described as drunk and passed out in a bloody-looking zombie costume. journal-news.net

How to read a girl based on her Halloween costume. mensfitness.com

A white apron and feather duster does not a costume make, but women everywhere use Halloween as an excuse to dress like a slut. mensfitness.com

After complaints, 'Seniores' and 'Señoritas' events at Canyon High in Anaheim Hills, where students wore costumes demeaning to Latinos, are canceled. latimes.com

A DIRECTOR NAMED DAVID The Obie winner and Skokie native David Cromer, here in front of costume sketches for A Streetcar Named Desire, returns to Writers' Theatre. chicagomag.com

Artists Mykl Wells and Joe Marshall lead workshops for making lanterns, floats, masks and costumes from 11 am to 5 pm, every Saturday and Sunday, through Sunday, Oct 28. tucsonweekly.com

Sexy Big Bird' Costume Has Got Sesame Street Wisely Trying to Discontinue Production ASAP. kygl.com

If you still don't have a Halloween costume, here's one: A guy in New York dressed in camouflage, wrapped himself in ivy, and went to Central Park to pop out and scare people as they walked by. 98kool.com

Cody, a 10-year-old dachshund, took top place Sunday in the dog costume contest held at The Promenade Shops at Centerra. denverpost.com

His owner, Ken Ferguson of Loveland, made Cody's hot dog vendor costume. denverpost.com

A-list guest stars, talented designers and lots of camaraderie makes the Costume Designers Guild Awards one of the most fun events of the season. hollywoodreporter.com

Their costumes aren't even stitched together. dallasobserver.com

Halloween how-to: Honey Boo Boo, Psy, Prince Harry and the Dowager of Grantham costumes. thestar.com

Usage in scientific papers

Its applications range from the study of costumers forming queues in banks and offices, to the study of data traffic in packet switching networks of routers in communication systems.
Phase transitions on heterogeneous random graphs: some case studies

Usage in literature

You may wear my costume, and the costumer will give it to you if you present this. "An Artist in Crime" by Rodrigues Ottolengui

I took particular pains in costuming my daughter, darling child that she was, and Mlle. "The Memoirs of Madame Vigée Lebrun" by Marie Louise Elisabeth Vigée-Lebrun

The splendid costume seemed to him sent by a good fairy. "Tales of the Caravan, Inn, and Palace." by William Hauff

Nor are yellow costumes the only kind that are supposed to cast an evil spell over their wearer. "The Scrap Book, Volume 1, No. 1" by Various

Ancient oriental costume then cannot be severed from the history and development of thought. "Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 7, Slice 4" by Various

Clear out one or two boxes, and pack a dress-suit and two or three ordinary suits; in fact, costume the Hon. "Lord Stranleigh Abroad" by Robert Barr

The costumes of a people are of the greatest worth in revealing to the student their grade of civilization and their ideals. "Women of England, Volume 9 (of 10)" by Burleigh James Bartlett

The costume of the matron, which custom had made stately, the lex Oppia had made severe. "Historia Amoris: A History of Love, Ancient and Modern" by Edgar Saltus

The Turkish general on this occasion wore a costume of unusual splendor. "The Golden Age in Transylvania" by Mór Jókai

Wondering what particularly charming costume you will wear to-night? "The Intriguers" by William Le Queux

Usage in poetry
In Mrs. Potter's latest play
The costuming is fine;
Her waist is made decollete--
Her skirt is new design.
She'd a velvet hat with trimmings,
And a dark grey serge costume;
She lived in Clevedon Terrace
In a small bed-sitting room.
Some women from the water rise
Under the scanty willows' lee,
And stepping on the sand, wring dry
Their bathing costumes hurriedly.
And this gay-pictured, spring-time shout
Of Fashion, hails what lady proud?
Her who before last year was out
Was costumed in a shroud.
In less than an hour sea were sighted
Tide weren't as far out as they'd thought
And Mabel soon popped on her costume
While John donned an old crown he'd brought
I like voluminous writing best,
That gives the facts dress'd up in style.
A handsome woman when she's dressed
Looks better than (repress that smile)
When she in plainer costume does appear;
The more it costs we know she is more dear.