trəˈdɪʃən n. 1 a a
custom,
opinion, or
belief handed down to
posterity esp. orally or by
practice. b
this process of handing down. 2 esp. joc. an established practice or custom (it's a tradition to
complain about the weather). 3
artistic,
literary, etc. principles based on
experience and practice;
any one of
these (stage tradition; traditions of the
Dutch School). 4 Theol.
doctrine or a
particular doctrine etc. claimed to
have divine authority without documentary evidence, esp.: a the
oral teaching of
Christ and the Apostles. b the laws
held by the Pharisees to have
been delivered by
God to Moses. c the words and deeds of Muhammad
not in the
Koran. 5
Law the
formal delivery of
property etc. øøtraditionary adj. traditionist n. traditionless adj. [ME f. OF tradicion or L traditio f. tradere
hand on,
betray (as
TRANS-,
dare give)]