practice

I. verb also practise (practiced; also practised; practicing; also practising) Etymology: Middle English practisen, from Middle French practiser, from Medieval Latin practizare, alteration of practicare, from practica practice, noun, from Late Latin practice, from Greek praktikē, from feminine of praktikos Date: 14th century transitive verb 1. a. carry out, apply <

practice what you preach

> b. to do or perform often, customarily, or habitually <

practice politeness

> c. to be professionally engaged in <

practice medicine

> 2. a. to perform or work at repeatedly so as to become proficient <

practice the act

> b. to train by repeated exercises <

practice pupils in penmanship

> 3. obsolete plot intransitive verb 1. to do repeated exercises for proficiency 2. to pursue a profession actively 3. archaic intrigue 4. to do something customarily 5. to take advantage of someone <

he practised on their credulity with huge success — Times Literary Supplement

> • practicer noun II. noun also practise Date: 15th century 1. a. actual performance or application <

ready to carry out in practice what they advocated in principle

> b. a repeated or customary action <

had this irritating practice

> c. the usual way of doing something <

local practices

> d. the form, manner, and order of conducting legal suits and prosecutions 2. a. systematic exercise for proficiency <

practice makes perfect

> b. the condition of being proficient through systematic exercise <

get in practice

> 3. a. the continuous exercise of a profession b. a professional business; especially one constituting an incorporeal property Synonyms: see habit