▪ I. use, n.
(juːs)
Forms: α. 3–5 vs (4–5 vss), 4, 7 Sc. us (3–4 hus, 4–5 uss), 5 ws (5 owse, 5–6 Sc. wss), 5–7 vse (5 vce, Sc. 5–6 wse), 4– use (5 uce, 6 usse). β. Sc. and north. 4 oise, 4–5 oys, oyse, 5 oysse, ois, 6 oiss; 4 vice, 5 vys, 5–6 vyss.
[a. AF. and OF. us, uus, hus m. (also use f.):—L. ūsus, f. the ppl. stem of ūtī to use.]
I. Act of using, or fact of being used.
1. a. The act of employing a thing for any (esp. a profitable) purpose; the fact, state, or condition of being so employed; utilization or employment for or with some aim or purpose, application or conversion to some (esp. good or useful) end.
| α a 1225 Ancr. R. 16 Þis word habbeð muchel on vs & i muðe euch time þet ȝe muwen. 1297 R. Glouc. (Rolls) 2211 Ne conne ȝe noȝt lerni þing þat ȝe ne dude neuer er; Change ȝoure hond & to þe vs of suerd & lance is [? read it] do. 1340 Ayenb. 55 Ine þe greate bysihede þet hy habbeþ, to porchaci... Efterward, mid grat lost þet hy habbeþ ine þe us. 1382 Wyclif Coloss. ii. 22 Nether ȝe schulen touche, nether taste, nether trete with hondis tho thingis, the which alle ben into deeth by the ilke vss. c 1440 Promp. Parv. 335/1 Mesure, in vse of..nedefulle thyngys,..frugalitas. 1558 in Feuillerat Revels Q. Mary (1914) 251 To lend me the vse of one of your maskes. 1599 B. Jonson Cynthia's Rev. v. i, Denying to the world the precious vse Of hoorded wealth. 1605 Verstegan Dec. Intell. i. (1628) 23 The Picards..are said first to haue gotten that name of their great and most accustomed use of pikes. 1646 Sir T. Browne Pseud. Ep. i. vii. 26 In..Law and History, there is..a frequent and allowable use of testimony. 1690 Locke Hum. Und. iii. x. §1 The obscurity and confusion that is so hard to be avoided in the Use of Words. 1729 T. Innes Crit. Essay 444 The ancient use of letters among the Irish. 1753 Challoner Cath. Chr. Instr. Pref. p. vi, What the Doctor has alledged against the Use of Incense. 1782 F. Burney Cecilia viii. viii, Is the gift of speech only granted us to pervert the use of understanding? 1831 Scott Ct. Rob. xi, His excellence in the use of the French language. 1860 J. W. Warter Sea-board II. 436 Certainly use and abuse are very different things. 1891 Sir A. Wills in Law Times XCI. 232/2 Massey..lent the use of his name to Kensington in order to oblige him. |
| β 1375 Barbour Bruce xvii. 252 For in Scotland..The oys of thame [sc. cannon] had nocht beyn sene. c 1425 Wyntoun Cron. i. 1310 As þe makaris had daynte Off þa bestis and delyte Be freyte or oysse, or be profyte. |
b. In legal
phr., coupled with
occupation (or
occupancy).
| 1738 Act 11 Geo. II, c. 19 §14 In an Action on the case, for the Use and Occupation of what was so held or enjoyed. 1772 Buller Introd. Law Nisi Prius (1775) 139 In Case for Use and Occupation of an House by Permission of the Plaintiff. 1808 W. Selwyn Law Nisi Prius II. 1180 Chap. xxxvii.—Use and Occupation. 1918 Nation (N.Y.) 7 Feb. 165/1 A percentage..will be paid on a pro-rata basis for each day of lost use and occupancy. |
c. Freq.
to make or take (..) use of.
| 1591 Shakes. Two Gent. ii. iv. 67 Sir Protheus..Made vse, and faire aduantage of his daies. 1606 Chapman M. D'Olive i. i, At my chamber, where we may take free use of our selves, that is, drinke sack, and talke Satyre. 1663 Gerbier Counsel 55 Those that mind the making use of Chalk in their walls. 1711 Addison Spect. No. 62 ¶5 The Words Fire and Flame are made use of to signify Love. 1774 Goldsm. Nat. Hist. (1776) V. 264 This bird's making use of the bed or nest of another to deposit its own brood in. 1823 P. Nicholson Pract. Build. 420 Plate-glass is the most beautiful glass made use of. 1862 Tyndall Mountaineer. ii. 16 We made use of all our strength. 1897 T. Hardy Well-Beloved i. vi, Perhaps she had only made use of him as a convenient aid to her intentions. |
† d. your (their, etc.) use,
= use of you (them, etc.).
Obs.| 1596 Shakes. 1 Hen. IV, i. iii. 21 When we need Your vse and counsell, we shall send for you. 1667 Milton P.L. ix. 750 Thy praise hee also who forbids thy use, Conceales not from us. 1691 T. H[ale] Acc. New Invent. 37 The Ingredients..being Forraign, such has sometimes been the scarcity thereof here, (even when their use has been most wanted). |
2. a. In various prepositional phrases (with
in,
to,
into,
out of,
for,
of).
| (a) a 1340 Hampole Psalter cxviii. 48 For of mykil thynk⁓ynge of þe comandmentis cumys in oyse goed werke. c 1400 Lanfranc's Chirurg. 306 Þe .i. instrument þat is comoun & moost in vss, is clepid nodulum. 1558–9 Act 1 Eliz. c. 2 §13 That suche Ornamentes of the Churche and of the Ministers therof shall bee reteyned and bee in use as was in this Churche of Englande. 1568 Grafton Chron. II. 345 Gonnes were first in vse, which were inuented by one of Germany. 1631 Gouge God's Arrows iv. Ded. p. v, I remember a Proverbiall speech in use among the Iewes. 1691 T. H[ale] Acc. New Invent. 5 To apply themselves forthwith to the putting in use this Invention upon some of his own Ships. 1711 Steele Spect. No. 36 ¶8 All the fashionable Phrases and Compliments now in use. 1755 Johnson, To Quarry,..to prey upon. A low word not in use. 1801 Med. Jrnl. XXI. 83 Every plan of cure at present in use. 1885 Manch. Exam. 10 July 5/2 Those [lamps] now in use. 1890 Sir N. Lindley in Law Times Rep. LXIII. 690 These two forms of order..are in constant use in the Chancery Division. |
| (b) 1388 Wyclif Neh. x. 31 The puplis..that bryngen in thingis set to sale, and alle thingis to vss. a 1425 tr. Arderne's Treat. Fistula, etc. 89 Be it kept to vse in ane erþen potte. c 1460 Fortescue Abs. & Lim. Mon. vi. (1885) 120 It nedith þat ther be lyvelode asseigned ffor the payment therof; wich lyvelode be in no wyse putte to no other vse. 1552–3 in Feuillerat Revels Edw. VI (1914) 112 By him bought and prouided and spent to the vse aforesaid. 1570 Billingsley Euclid ii. prop. ii. 63 Which oftentimes serueth to great vse in working. 1590 Shakes. Com. Err. iii. ii. 97, I know not what vse to put her too. 1628–a 1700 [see put v.1 18]. 1748 Chesterfield Let. 16 Feb., Every moment may be put to some use. 1893 Nat. Observer 7 Oct. 536/1 The gallows were put to real use. |
| (c) c 1444 Pecock Donet 51 Or ellis he takiþ into vse alle kyndis of hem [sc. goods]. 1688 Miége Gt. Fr. Dict. ii. s.v., To put a Thing into Use. 1728 North Mem. Music (1846) 55 Instruments..invented, and brought into common use. 1835 Penny Cycl. IV. 398/1 At what time..bills of exchange were first brought into use is a matter..not..satisfactorily ascertained. 1879 M. J. Guest Lect. Hist. Eng. I. 508 Two wonderful instruments had lately come into use. 1890 Sat. Rev. 8 Feb. 175/2 This word came into use to express [etc.]. |
| (d) 1538 Elyot, Exoletus, he that is passed growynge..olde, or out of vse. 1579 E. K. Spenser's Sheph. Cal. Epist., Such good and naturall English words, as haue ben long time out of vse. 1603 G. Owen Pembrokeshire iii. (1891) 36 And soe was the English growne out of use..and used only amonge the basest sorte of people. a 1700 Evelyn Diary 18 March 1649, The blessed Sacrament, now wholly out of use in the Parish Churches. 1710 Steele Tatler No. 174 ¶3 A broken Limb will recover its Strength by the sole Benefit of being out of Use. 1892 Monthly Packet Oct. 430 The name..had in some way gone out of use. |
| (e) 1548 Elyot, Vsualis,..vsuall, that serueth for our vse. a 1648 Digby Chym. Secr. ii. (1684) 195 Make it up into Balls..and keep them for Use. 1697 Dryden Virg. Georg. iii. 480 The Fleece, when drunk with Tyrian Juice, Is dearly sold; but not for needful use. 1742 Young Nt. Th. ii. 154 Since Time was giv'n for use, not waste. 1807 Crabbe Par. Reg. i. 81 There pious works for Sunday's use are found. 1896 Lucas Cyclealities 117 A small Hold-all for use with handle-bar carriers. |
| (f) 1611 Bible Transl. Pref. ¶1 Thus it is apparent, that these things..are of most necessary vse. 1648 Sanderson Serm. (1653) 6 Words..of very frequent use in the New Testament. 1833 Holland Manuf. Metal II. 285 Articles of such universal use and importance. 1839 F. A. Kemble Resid. in Georgia (1863) 18 Implements..of household use. 1880 J. Britten Old Words p. xiv, Others [sc. words] apparently of general use. |
† b. in the use of, making use of.
Obs.| 1594 Southampton Court Leet Rec. (1906) ii. 296 Robert Russell, william cortney, John grant nowe in the vse of Thomas heths brewary. |
† c. of use, used, employed.
Obs.—1| 1634 Sir T. Herbert Trav. 183 [The jacks] boyld giue food no lesse pleasant..then doe the Date-stones of vse in Persia. |
3. In special senses:
a. The act of using or fact of being used as food, etc.; consumption.
| 1586 Day Eng. Secretorie i. (1595) 27 A kind of graine growing in great cods, whereby we sometimes obtaine (though not the naturall) yet some vse of bread. 1588 Kyd Househ. Philos. Wks. (1901) 259 The Nurses shoulde not be so narrowly forbidde the often vse of wynes. 1697 Dryden Virg. Georg. iv. 231 They..hoard, for Winter's Use, the Summer's Gain. 1708 Ockley Saracens I. Table, Sawik, a sort of Food in Use among the Arabians. 1725 N. Robinson Th. Physick 290 The Patient should be exhorted not to leave off the Use of the Bark too soon. 1772 W. Buchan Dom. Med. (ed. 2) 255 Wholesome food, and a moderate use of generous liquors. 1836 A. Combe Physiol. Digestion (ed. 2) 319 Many persons imagine that spirits..cannot be injurious, because they feel no immediate bad effects from their use. 1862 Chambers's Encycl. III. 552/2 Certain substances [i.e. tobacco, tea, and coffee] which..may fairly be considered, from the universality of their use, to exert a definite influence on the organism. |
b. Employment or maintenance for sexual purposes. (See also
quot. 1841.)
Cf. use v. 10 b.
| 1565 Cooper Thes. s.v. Fruor, He hath the vse of hir, &c. 1607 Tourneur Rev. Trag. ii. ii, I cannot honor her [ante my mother],..Her tongue has turnd my sister into vse. 1647 A. Ross Mystag. Poet. viii. (1675) 176 His step-mother desired the use of his body. Ibid. ix. 225 [Ixion] began to fall in love with Juno, desiring the use of her body. 1676 R. Dixon Two Testaments 551 A wife, not a Concubine, might be taken by use; for a whole un-interrupted year without usurpation. 1748 Earthquake Peru iii. 247 Two ancient Ways of marrying still subsist in this Country; that of keeping a Mistress is very answerable to that which was call'd by Use. 1841 Hartshorne Salop. Ant. Gloss. 606 A mare is said to be ‘in use’ when she is under the influence of certain appetites or affections. 1894 Nature's Method in Evol. Life iii. 45 The bulls [are] put to use about twelve months old. Ibid., Stallions are commonly in use long before they are full grown. |
4. Law.
a. The act or fact of using, holding, or possessing land or other property so as to derive revenue, profit, or other benefit from such.
| 1535–6 Act 27 Hen. VIII, c. 10 §6 Concernyng such right, title, use, interest, or possession as they..have clayme or pretende to have. 1579 Rastell Termes de la Ley 183 b/2 The stat. of An. 27. H. 8. c. 10 prouided..that who hath the vse of the lande, the same hath y⊇ possession therof by vertue of that estatute. 1596 Bacon Max. & Use Com. Law ii. (1635) 57 They conveyed their full estates of their lands in their good health, to friends in trust,..and this trust was called, the use of the land. 1642 tr. Perkins' Prof. Bk. viii. §528. 231 Before the statute of West. 3,..there was no use of lands or of houses if not that it were expressed upon the delivery of the estate. 1681 Stair Institut. xvi. 327 Usufruct is the power of disposal of the use and fruits, saving the Substance of the thing. 1706 Stanhope Paraphr. III. 334 The longest Inheritance and Descent, is in truth but the longest Use, but not so much as a Lease or Tenant-right. 1734 Pope Hor. Sat. ii. ii. 165 ‘Pity! to build, without a son or wife:’..Well, if the use be mine, can it concern one, Whether the name belong to Pope or Vernon? 1766 Blackstone Comm. II. 137 The property or possession of the soil being vested in one man, and the use, or profit thereof, in another. 1818 Cruise Digest (ed. 2) I. 474 No use would have resulted to the father, because blood was a sufficient consideration to have vested the use in the son. 1888 Encycl. Brit. XXIII. 596/1 The conveyance of an estate to a friend on the understanding that they should retain the use, i.e., the actual profit and enjoyment of the estate. |
b. A trust or confidence reposed in a person for the holding of property, etc., of which another receives or is entitled to the profits or benefits.
| 1535 Act 27 Hen. VIII, c. 10 §1 Fraudulent feoffementes, fynes, recoveryes, and other assurances craftely made to secrete uses, intentes, and trustes. Ibid. §12 Any person..seasid of or in any Landes, Ten[emen]tes, or Hereditamentes to any use, trust, or confydence. 1579 Rastell Termes de la Ley 183 b/2 Vses of Land had beginning after that the custome of propertie began among men. 1628 Coke On Litt. 272 b, An Vse is a Trust or Confidence reposed in some other. 1759 Sterne Tr. Shandy i. xv, By force and virtue of the statute for transferring of uses into possession. 1765 Blackstone Comm. II. 335 This is sometimes called a secondary, sometimes a shifting, use. 1766– [see springing ppl. a. 8]. 1845 Williams Law Real Prop. 124 A doctrine was laid down, that there could not be a use upon a use. 1882 F. Pollock in Macm. Mag. XLVI. 365 The Statute of Uses (a.d. 1535) was passed in order to prevent the severance of legal from beneficial ownership. 1888 Encycl. Brit. XXIII. 596/1 The feoffee to uses, as he was called, or the person seised to the use of another. |
c. In the phrase
in use or to (..) use.
| 1491 Act 7 Hen. VII, c. 2 §5 They and their feoffes to the use of every of theym. 1535 Act 27 Hen. VIII, c. 10 §1 Any Honoures, Castelles,..Remaynders or other Hereditamentes, to the use, confidence or trust of any other..parsones or of anye bodie polytike. Ibid., In suche lyke estates as they had or shall have in use, trust, or confidence of or in the same. 1596 Shakes. Merch. V. iv. i. 383 So he will let me haue The other halfe in vse, to render it Vpon his death, vnto the Gentleman. 1606 ― Ant. & Cl. i. iii. 44 But my full heart Remaines in vse with you. 1720 T. Wood Inst. Laws Eng. 436 Where no Uses are Declared, the Feoffment, Fine or Recovery shall enure to the Use of the Feoffor, Cognizor, etc. 1818 Cruise Digest (ed. 2) V. 525 Supposing the Earl of Derby a feoffee to use,..still the grant..was free and gratuitous. 1888 Encycl. Brit. XXIII. 596/1 This alienation of land in use was looked upon with great disfavour by the common law courts. |
5. a. The fact of using money borrowed or lent at a premium.
| 1603 Holland Plutarch's Mor. 283 [They] choose..to pawn them for to borrow money thereupon & pay for use. 1607 Harington Nugæ Ant. (1804) II. 232 Sending some present, enough perhaps to pay for the use of 1000 li. 1641 Aldeburgh Rec. in N. & Q. 12th Ser. IX. 146/2 Rec[ei]vd of Mr. John Blowers for one yeeres use of 40 li. 2[li.] 16. 00. 1729 Jacob Law Dict. s.v. Usury, Reasonable Interest may be taken for the Use of Money at this Day. 1767 Blackstone Comm. II. 454 When money is lent on a contract to receive..an increase by way of compensation for the use. 1862 [see usance 4 b]. |
b. Premium on money lent to another; interest, usury. Now
dial. or
arch. Freq.
to † take use or
pay use.
In frequent use from
c 1612 to
c 1690.
| 1611 Rich Honest. Age (Percy Soc.) 60 Therefore, (sayth the Vsurer), we may take vse of him that is rich. 1655 Stanley Hist. Philos. iii. (1687) 104/2 If the Moon Ne'r rise again, I'me bound to pay no use... 'Cause use you know is paid by th' Month. 1690 Child Disc. Trade 207 With them..there is not any Use for Money tollerated, above the rate of Six in the Hundred. 1728 T. Sheridan tr. Persius vi. 93 Do not you..advise me, to live upon the Use of my Money. 1747 Mem. Nutrebian Crt. I. 55 On whom he settled the use of 20,000 crowns for her life. 1825 Jamieson. 1869– in dialect use (Eng. Dial. Dict.). 1872 Tennyson Foresters iv, ‘Here be one thousand marks.’.. ‘Ay, ay, but there is use, four hundred marks.’ |
| fig. 1599 Shakes. Much Ado ii. i. 286 Hee lent it [sc. his heart] me a while, and I gaue him vse for it, a double heart. 1628 Earle Microcosm., Vniuersitie Dunne (Arb.) 74 The sole place to supply him is the Butterie, where hee takes grieuous vse vpon your Name. 1648 J. Beaumont Psyche vi. ccxxiii, The Serpent, whose illustrious skin Plaid with the Sunne and sent him back his beams With glorious Use. 1784 Cowper Task iii. 364 Human life Is but a loan to be repaid with use. 1874 Hardy Far from Madding Crowd xli, You'll never see Fanny Robin no more—use nor principal—ma'am. |
| transf. 1637 in Verney Mem. (1907) I. 104 He threatens to make him pay use for his barn. |
c. In the
phr. at,
to,
† upon (..) use. Now
dial.| (a) 1598 E. Guilpin Skial. (1878) 21 As heresie he shuns all merriment, And turn'd good husband, puts forth sighs to vse. 1631 Massinger Emperor East i. ii, I, alas! Lend out my labouring brains to use, and sometimes For a drachma in the pound. 1642 D. Rogers Naaman 158, I would not put my mony to use; but that it is against a Common wealth to keepe it. 1680 R. L'Estrange Erasm. Colloq. (1725) 248 They Buy, they Sell, they take to Use, they put to Use. 1700 J. A. Astry tr. Saavedra-Faxardo II. 149 We read, that Pompey put out his Money to Use. 1738 tr. Guazzo's Art Convers. 43 Two Florentine Brethren, who let out their Money to Use. 1785 Cumberland Natural Son v. (ed. 2) 82 You are my own son;—you have put my money out to use already. |
| (b) 1618 Barnevelt's Apol. C 4 b, Our last borrowed money is..at vse at sixteene. 1656 Earl of Monmouth tr. Boccalini's Advts. fr. Parnass. 95 One Menalcas..took up money at use. 1727 Swift To Earl of Oxford Wks. 1755 III. ii. 47 Is your money out at use? 1784 R. Bage Barham Downs I. 172, I had three hundred pounds at use. 1814 Scott Wav. xlii, If his honour had mair ready siller..he could put it out at use..at great profit. 1841 Hartshorne Salop Ant. Gloss. 606 Money out at use. 1849– in dialect use (Eng. Dial. Dict. s.v.). |
| (c) 1622 Mabbe tr. Aleman's Guzman d' Alf. ii. 251 Let him but take vp so much vpon Vse. 1630 R. Johnson's Kingd. & Commw. 353 Some doe give voluntarily, others doe lend frankly, or upon light use. 1667 Duchess of Newcastle Life Duke of N. (1886) II. 146 The loss of my Lord's estate, in plain rents, as also upon ordinary use. |
† d. use upon (also on) use, compound interest; excessive interest. Also
fig. Obs.| [1591 Sylvester Du Bartas i. iii. 521 You City-Vipers, that (incestious) joyn Use vpon use, begetting Coyn of Coyn!] 1620 Sanderson Serm. (1632) 111 Your vse vpon vse, that doubleth the principall in seven yeares, is nothing to it. 1651 Cleveland Smectymnuus 70 No Eccho can improve the Author more, Whose lungs paies use on use to half a score. 1682 Sir T. Browne Chr. Mor. (1756) 15 To famish in plenty, and live poorly to die rich, were multiplying improvement in madness, and use upon use in folly. |
6. Employment or usage resulting in, or such as to cause, impairment, wear, etc.
| c 1440 Promp. Parv. 522/2 Weryn or wax olde and febyl by vse,..veterasco, vetero, invetero. 1670 Sir Sackville Crow in 12th Rep. Hist. MSS. Comm. App. V. 15 Theire ordnary designes [in tapestry]..with a whiles use will soone loose theire luster. 1697 Dryden Virg. Georg. iii. 6 All other Themes that careless Minds invite, Are worn with Use. 1755 Johnson, To wear,..to waste with use or time. 1840 Dickens Old C. Shop xvii, Everything told of long use and quiet slow decay. 1848 Mill Pol. Econ. I. 44 Although deteriorated in some small degree by each use, it does not do its work by being deteriorated. 1904 Verney Memoirs I. 68 The wear and tear of even holiday use. |
II. Habit of using.
7. a. With
the. The habitual, usual, or common practice; continual, repeated, or accustomed employment or exercise; habit, custom. (
Cf. 9.)
| 1297 R. Glouc. (Rolls) 9402 Þe wone & hus [v.r. vse] þat ȝe abbeþ euere ibe aboue þat aȝte make ȝou abbe to fiȝte þe betere loue. a 1400–50 Alexander 2950 Sen þe vse is here vn-honorable here I þam lefe. c 1480 Henryson Sheep & Dog ii, By the vse, and cours, and commoun style On this maner [he] maid his Citatioun. 1565 Cooper Thesaurus s.v. Usus, To suche a one as was nowe paste the vse and custome of lewde doeynge. 1577 B. Googe Heresbach's Husb. ii. 66 The vse of sowing of them is best. 1594 Marlowe & Nashe Dido i. i, It is the vse for Turen maides to weare Their bowe and quiuer in this modest sort. 1604 Jas. I Counterbl. to Tobacco To Rdr., The vile vse (or other abuse) of taking Tobacco. 1637 Earl of Monmouth tr. Malvezzi's Romulus & Tarquin 209 The use of seeing dead men takes mercy totally away. 1656 ― tr. Boccalini's Advts. fr. Parnassus ii. xxviii. 271 The use of being drunk, being rather a piece of publick cunning amongst the Dutch, then [etc.]. 1720 Ozell Vertot's Rom. Rep. (1740) II. xi. 170 Metellus Pius commanded them, as a Proconsul, according to the Use of those Days. 1725 Pope Odyssey x. 551 The cause remov'd, habitual griefs remain, And the soul saddens by the use of pain. 1825 Scott Betrothed xxi, One not in the use to speak before his purpose was fixed. 1854 C. Wordsw. Misc. (1879) I. 104 The use is inveterate, and it would be difficult to reform it. 1877 Mrs. Oliphant Makers Flor. iv. 112 The painter following the religious use and wont of his time. |
b. In the
phr. as the use is, etc.
Cf. 9 b.
| 1432 in 15th Rep. Hist. MSS. Comm. App. VIII. 44 The saidis Jone and Elisabeth sall be handfast, as the oys is, in haly Kirk. c 1475 Harl. Contin. Higden (Rolls) VIII. 441 That men electe to be bischoppes..may..be confermede of theire metropolitans as the use was afore. 1535 Coverdale Judith xvi. 20 The people was ioyfull, as the vse is. 1611 Bible 2 Macc. xii. 39 Vpon the day following as the vse had bene,..his company came to take vp the bodies. 1633 P. Fletcher Purple Isl. i. v, Wake thy..Muse, And thank them with a song, as is the use. 1871 W. Alexander Johnny Gibb xxxv, They fixed it [sc. the settlement of the minister], as the use and wont is, for a week day. |
c. With limiting genitive or possessive
pron.| 1390 Gower Conf. I. 15 Upon the hond to were a Schoo..Acordeth noght to the behove Of resonable mannes us. c 1400 Destr. Troy 6426 Nay, warloghe wolfe,..Þat neuer of forray art full, with þi foule vse. c 1425 Cast. Persev. 774 in Macro Plays 100 Messenger, do now þyne vse! Ibid. 949 Do now wel ȝoure olde owse whanne ȝe com to Mankynde! 1432 Rolls of Parlt. IV. 404/1 Eny clothis..made aftre the use of the Countrey. 1535 Coverdale 2 Macc. xi. 25 That they maye lyue acordinge to the vse & custome of their forefathers. 1568 Grafton Chron. II. 89 His vse was to ride with a thousande horses continually. c 1600 Shakes. Sonn. lxxviii, So oft haue I inuok'd thee for my Muse,..As euery Alien pen hath got my vse. 1609 Dekker Gull's Horn-bk. v. 22 Let it be your vse to repaire thither some halfe houre after eleuen. 1612 Shelton Quix. i. iv. (1620) 24 It is the vse of Cowards to doe that which thou dost. 1670 Walton Lives ii. 126 After his customary publick Devotions, his use was to retire into his Study. 1800 Wordsw. Michael 155 Not alone For pastime and delight, as is the use Of fathers. 1836 Husenbeth Faberism Exposed v. 528 The use and practice of the Catholic Church..of reordaining clerical converts from the Anglican Church. 1864 Tennyson Aylmer's F. 566 The gentle creature shut from all Her charitable use,..slowly lost..her hold on life. |
8. A custom, habit, or practice.
| c 1350 Lybeaus Disc. 752 In fyghtyng he hath an us Knyghtes to begyle. c 1425 Wyntoun Cron. ii. v. 376 In till Egipt..That vys is kepit to þis day. c 1450 Mirk's Festial i. 113 Þou marterys me by a foule vse and custom of sweryng. c 1489 Caxton Sonnes of Aymon ix. 200 Be not dismayed for no thynge, for this is but an vse of werre; suche a thyng befalleth often to many one. 1542 Boorde Dyetary (1870) 252 Englande hath an euyll vse in syttynge longe at dyner. 1587 R. Hovenden in Collect. (O.H.S.) I. 217 We never let our woods but once and that by great oversight: this one tyme we trust your Lordship will not count an use. 1601 Hakluyt Galvano's Discov. World 15 It was a vse also..to passe to India by land. 1613 Purchas Pilgrimage (1614) 749 They haue a filthy and detestable vse in marrying their Maidens. 1721 Kelly Scot. Prov. 272 An ill Use ought to be early broken off. 1728 Chambers Cycl. (1738) s.v., Uses and Customs of the sea. 1819 Shelley Cenci iv. iv. 177 She knows not yet the uses of the world. 1875 Gladstone Glean. (1879) VI. 124 When such an use came in, it was thought to be like a sign of the double superlative in High Churchmanship. |
9. a. Without article. Accustomed practice or procedure; habit, usage, custom, wont. (
Cf. 7.) Also (
b) coupled with synonymous term,
esp. wont.
| (a) c 1340 Hampole Pr. Consc. 7634 Planetes..styk noght fast, als smale sternes dose, Ilk ane his course mase thurgh use. 1340–70 Alex. & Dind. 720 Ȝe schullen bi ordre of vse offren to venus A ful derworþe douue. 1390 Gower Conf. I. 133 The which to comun us is strange. c 1440 Alph. Tales 273 Opon þe day of his translacion it was vse to bere his bonys furth of þe kurk. c 1480 Henryson Fox & Wolf 173 Use drawis Nature swa in propertie Of beist and man, that neidlingis thay man do As thay of lang tyme hes bene hantit to. 1565 Cooper Thesaurus s.v. Usus, Vse, the inuentour of woordes. 1585 C. Fetherstone tr. Calvin on Acts vi. 2 Vse is the father of wisedome. 1651 Hobbes Leviath. ii. xxvi. 138 Long Use obtaineth the authority of a Law. 1697 Dryden Virg. Georg. ii. 366 So strong is Custom; such Effects can Use In tender Souls of pliant Plants produce. 1733 Swift Apology Wks. 1755 IV. i. 212 Madam, the mighty pow'r of use Now strangely pleads in my excuse. 1781 Cowper Convers. 189 To rush into a fixt eternal state,..Whatever use may urge, or honour plead, On reason's verdict is a madman's deed. 1812 Cary Dante, Parad. xxvi. 135 In mortals, use Is as the leaf upon the bough: that goes, And other comes instead. |
| (b) 1526 Pilgr. Perf. (W. de W. 1531) 162 b, Let vs not come to y⊇ chirche by vse and custome, as the oxe to his stall. 1609 Skene Reg. Maj. 44 He craues onelie na other service, bot vse and wont. 1689 in Acts Parlt. Scotl. (1875) XII. 58/2 Þat the maltmen þer be lyable for the excyse according to use and wont. 1728 Chambers Cycl. s.v. Language, 'Tis Use and Custom is the Rule of a Language. 1762 in Nairne Peerage Evidence (1874) 95 Priviledges belonging to the said lands conform to use and wont. 1805 Wordsw. Prelude xiv. 158 The tendency..Of use and custom to bow down the soul Under a growing weight of vulgar sense. 1825 R. Wilson Sk. Hist. Hawick 190 This tax,..by the law of ‘use and wont’,..has become part and parcel of the system. 1850 Tennyson In Mem. xxix. 11 Make one wreath more for Use and Wont, That guard the portals of the house. |
| attrib. 1845 Carlyle Cromwell (1871) IV. 42 Constitutional Presbyterian persons, Use-and-wont Neuters. 1885 Pater Marius I. 131 A careless, half-conscious, ‘use-and-wont’ reception of our experience. |
b. Sc. In the
phr. as use is, etc.
Cf. 7 b.
| c 1375 Sc. Leg. Saints xviii. (Egipciane) 126 Syne, as oyse was, Þai entryt in þare oratore. 1423 in Charters, &c. of Edinburgh (1871) 55 Payand of the chaldre as vse and custume is and as thai war wont to pay [etc.]. 1549 Reg. Aberdon. (Maitl. Cl.) I. 434 As vse euer hes beyne in tyme bygane. 1557 Reg. Cupar Abbey II. 140 Payand ȝerle..ten merkis money.., as vse and wont wes. 1697 Jedburgh Fleshers' Book (MS.), [He] has payed all dewes as use is. |
c. Freq. in the
phr. in (..) use. Also (chiefly
Sc.),
to be in use of, or to (do something).
| (a) c 1450 Mirk's Festial i. 45 Mony fals opynyons of wyche⁓craft..þe whech ben noght to telle among crysten men, lest þay wer drawen yn vse. 1565 Cooper Thesaurus, Increbuit consuetudo, the custome did grow in vse. 1579 Spenser Let. to Harvey Poet. Wks. (1912) 635/2 As for the twoo worthy Gentlemen,..they haue me..in some vse of familiarity. 1662 Stillingfl. Orig. Sacr. ii. vii. §9 The reason of the ceremoniall precepts did respect the customs in use when they were given. |
| (b) 1504 Munim. de Melros (Bann. Cl.) 601 That the said schirref was in vse of calling of the said landis..in thare courtis. 1574 Reg. Privy Council Scot. II. 389 He has bene in use of pament of the soume of fourtie pundis yeirlie. 1581 Ibid. III. 399 They wer nevir in use of setting of new takkis befoir the expyring of the auld. 1800 A. Carlyle Autobiog. (1860) 44, I was in use of going to my father's on Saturdays. |
| (c) 1566 Reg. Privy Council Scot. I. 492 The Personis of Glasgow hes alwayis bene in use to furneis breid. c 1630 Sir T. Hope Minor Practicks (1726) 26 The Executors..are in Use..to protest that [etc.]. 1759 Robertson Hist. Scot. (1761) II. 77 The respect, with which the Scots were in use to receive her ministers. 1780 Mirror No. 101, He too had been in use to talk of feeling and of sentiment. 1829 Bentham Justice & Cod. Petit. 82 A multitude of distinguishable sources, out of which complexity is in use to arise. 1862 Chambers's Encycl. III. 608/2 The emperors were in use expressly to confer upon the universities the right of appointing doctors of laws. |
† d. Ordinary or usual experience.
Obs.—1| 1588 Kyd Househ. Phil. Wks. (1901) 266 One should so helpe another as wee see by vse in our owne bodies; when the one leg is weary we can rest it on the other [etc.]. 1601 Sir W. Cornwallis Ess. ii. xxxii, But to my vse, we leaue our women ignorant, and so leaue them fearefull. |
10. Const.
of.
a. Opportunity, occasion, habit, or practice of using. Chiefly
to have the use of.
| a 1340 Hampole Psalter lii. 2 Thai ere brokyn fra oyse and strenght of reson. c 1380 Wyclif Wks. (1880) 453 As seyntes þat ben in heuene han vss of alle þes worldly godis. Ibid., Þis is þe freest vss þat men han off worldly godis. 1565 Cooper Thesaurus, Ususfructuarius,..he that hath the vse and fruite of a thyng, but not the proprietie. 1577 Holinshed Chron. I. Hist. Scotl. xiv. 21/2 The Pict (saith Herodian) hath generally no vse of apparell. 1590 Sir J. Smyth Disc. Weapons 42 b, The weapon of all others that God hath put into the hearts of men, to deuise and vse..to chasten..other such Nations, as..had the perfect vse of the same. 1656 H. Phillips Purch. Patt. (1676) 137 Men, who have daily use hereof, have tables and lines upon their Rulers. 1698 Froger Voy. 75 Not having the use or knowledge of iron. 1715 Leoni Palladio's Archit. (1742) I. 82 The Ancients not having had the Use of Stirrups. 1774 J. Bryant Mythol. I. 341 They had the use of the sphere, and were acquainted with the zodiac. 1780 Mirror No. 81, I was never allowed the use of my limbs, because I could afford a coach. 1814 Wordsw. Excurs. v. 849 Nature's..higher creatures born and trained To use of reason. 1826 Galt Last of Lairds ix. 85 Considering the use ye have had of his money. |
b. The power of using some faculty, etc.; ability to use or employ.
| 1483 Caxton Gold. Leg. 432/1 Fyue wymmen..recouerd the use of goyng whiche they had loste by dyuers sekenesse. 1539 Elyot Cast. Helth (1541) 64 Passions of the mynde..bryng a man from the vse of reason, and somtime in the displeasure of almightye God. 1585 T. Washington tr. Nicholay's Voy. Ep. Ded., He had the exquisite vse of two and twenty sundry tongues. 1592 in J. Morris Troubles Cath. Forefathers (1877) 30 Another Catholic, that had but the use of one of his hands. 1610 Shakes. Temp. iii. iii. 38 People..expressing (Although they want the vse of tongue) a kinde Of excellent dumbe discourse. a 1654 Gataker Antid. Errour Ep. Ded. (1670) A 3 b, If God had granted him a little longer use of light [= life]. 1711 Steele Spect. No. 36 ¶8 How hard a thing it is for those to keep Silence who have the Use of Speech. 1753 Challoner Cath. Chr. Instr. 23 Till a Person is come to the Use of Reason. 1859 Tennyson Merlin & V. 495 She lay as dead, And lost all use of life. 1860 Mrs. Carlyle Lett. (1883) III. 51 ‘Little darling’ has lost the use of an arm and hand by paralysis. |
11. The act of accustoming or fact of being accustomed by repeated exercise, employment, application, etc.; habituation, practice.
| 1382 Wyclif 1 Sam. xvii. 39 Thanne Dauid..began to asaye if armyd he myȝte goo... And Dauid seide to Saul, I may not thus goo, for and vse I haue not. c 1440 Promp. Parv. 508/1 Vse, oftyne tymys, þat ys callyd excersyse,..exercicium. c 1470 Henry Wallace viii. 1259 Lang ws in wer gert thaim desyr thair will. 1529 More Dyaloge i. Wks. 144/2 Howe far so euer his people fal from the vse of vertue. 1551 T. Wilson Logike C viii, When men can by muche vse, leape, wrastle, or cast the barre, better then any other. a 1586 Sidney Astroph. & Stella cvii, Giue thy lieuetenancie To this great cause, which needes both use and art. 1680 Moxon Mech. Exerc. xii. 203 Use has made the Mawl more handy for them. a 1774 Goldsm. tr. Scarron's Com. Romance (1775) I. 154, I frequented all the fencing-schools to keep my hand in vse. 1788 Gibbon Decl. & F. xli. IV. 130 The infantry..yielded to the more prevailing use and reputation of the cavalry. 1805 Wordsw. Prelude vii. 332 Ere we have learnt by use to slight the crimes And sorrows of the world. 1819 Shelley Cenci iii. i. 173 Should the offender live?..and make, by use, His crime Thine..element. |
12. Eccl. a. The distinctive ritual and liturgy, form of service or public worship, that prevailed or obtained in a particular church, province, diocese, community, etc. Now
Hist.| c 1380 Wyclif Sel. Wks. III. 202 To seie matynes and masse and evensong bi Salisbury uss. Ibid. 482. c 1450 St. Cuthbert (Surtees) 7549 Of monkys vse þai saide þair houres. c 1470 Henry Wallace x. 1006 Salysbery oyss our clerkis than has tan. 1527 Prymer (title-p.), This prymer of Salysbury vse. 1548–9 (title), The Booke of the Common Prayer..after the vse of the Churche of England. Ibid. Pref., Some folowyng Salsbury vse, some Herford vse, some the vse of Bangor, some of Yorke, and some of Lincolne. Ibid., From hencefurth, all the whole realme shall haue but one vse. 1590 in Fuller Ch. Hist. (1655) ix. 198 The said Thomas Cartwright..conformed himself in both to the use and form of some other forraign Churches. 1636 E. Pagitt Christianogr. iii. 95 The Popes Legates..brought in the Roman use or service into Ireland. 1643 Baker Chron., Hen. V, 58 In his third yeare, the order of Church Service..was changed from the use of Pauls to the use of Salisbury. 1849 Rock Ch. of Fathers i. v. (1903) I. 321 Almost the whole of the Salisbury Use had been printed while this country was still Catholic. 1878 Simmons Lay Folks Mass Bk. 89 The Order of Mass for Trinity Sunday, according to the use of York. Ibid. 354 A comparative calendar and index of fixed feasts, so necessary in the identification of uses. |
b. Religious rite or ceremony observed in particular services of the church; a customary form of religious observance or service.
| 1382 Wyclif Exod. xxvii. 19 Alle the vessels of the tabernacle, into alle vsis and serymonyes,..thow shalt make of brasse. c 1425 Wyntoun Cron. ii. 715 His body..Was put in honest sepulture, Wiþ swylk oysse and solempnyte As þat tyme was in þat cuntre. 1560 J. Daus tr. Sleidane's Comm. 34 He him selfe..cannot tell what time this accustomed vse of masse..came vp. 1877 A. J. Ross Mem. A. Ewing 180 Some very remarkable ‘uses’.., such as mixing water with the wine in the Holy Communion. 1889 Pater G. de Latour (1896) 39 This mother of churches, which had also its own picturesque peculiarities of ‘use’. 1897 Daily News 12 April 6/7 The revived ‘use’ of the Victorian era in the Anglican Church. |
13. a. The custom, usage, or practice obtaining or prevailing in a particular country, community, etc.
| 1432–50 tr. Higden (Rolls) I. 401 The vse of that cuntre differrethe from the rite of Englonde in clothenge,..and in mony other thynges. c 1450 J. Capgrave Life St. Augustine 47, I trowe þat he had þe vse of Itaile whilles he studied þere, and coude not litly out of þe same vse, for þei ete not mech at onys. c 1500 Melusine xxvi. 207 The halle was hanged nobly with ryche clothes after the vse of the land. 1582 N. Lichefield tr. Castanheda's Conq. E. Ind. i. lxxvi. 155 His night gowne was..after the French use laced about, with lase of golde. 1885 Dunckley in Manch. Weekly Times 23 May 5/6 The proper pronunciation..was handed down by oral tradition and by the use of the synagogue. |
† b. Sc. Accustomed manner of life.
Obs.| c 1425 Wyntoun Cron. vii. 1218 His awyn oysse to lif wertual, May mirroure and ensampil be Til alkyn statis. c 1470 Henry Wallace vii. 1279 In wtlaw oys he lewit thar but let. |
III. Manner of using.
14. Manner or mode of employing, applying, turning to account, etc.:
a. With qualifying
adjs.| c 1325 Metr. Hom. 3 That wisdom..That God hauis giuen us for to spend, In god oys til our liues end. a 1340 Hampole Psalter lxxvii. 14 He gifis þaim..riches, and þai dispend þaim in ill oyse. c 1340 ― Prose Tr. 11 All maner of wilfull pollusyone procurede one any maner agaynes kyndly oys. 1390 Gower Conf. III. 136 Loke wel that he ne schifte Hise wordes to no wicked us. 1526 Tindale Romans i. 27 Lyke wyse also the men lefte the naturall vse of the woman. 1563 Homilies ii. Use of Ch. ii. Cc iij, Concernyng the right vse of the temple of god. 1592 W. Wyrley (title), The True Vse of Armorie, shewed by Historie. 1667 Milton P.L. iv. 204 [He] perverts best things To worst abuse, or to thir meanest use. 1781 Cowper Retirem. 170 Nor these alone prefer a life recluse, Who seek retirement for its proper use. 1804 Med. Jrnl. XII. 433 The result of the advantageous use of that remedy. |
b. Without qualification.
| 1624 E. Gunter (title), The Description and vse of the Sector. The Crosse-staffe and other instruments. 1669 Sturmy Mariner's Mag. i. ii. 5 So have you made the Mariner's Sea-Compass. The Use shall be shew'd in its place. 1703 Moxon Mech. Exerc. 348 The use of the Line of Chords. As its use is very easie, so its convenience is very great. |
15. With
a and
pl. A manner or method of using, utilizing, or employing; an instance of this.
to make a{ddd}use of:
cf. 1 c.
| 1386 Rolls of Parlt. III. 226/1 The whiche comune wronge uses [of the king's power], and many other if it lyke to yow mowe be shewed. 1611 Bible Transl. Pref. ¶4 But what mention wee three or foure vses of the Scripture? 1634 Sir T. Herbert Trav. 154 If they casually finde a piece of paper that has his [sc. Jesus'] name in it, they preserue it from all bad uses. 1651 J. Reading Guide to Holy City xxxv. 428 To make a more thankfull, prudent, and holy use thereof [sc. of health]. 1725 Watts Logic (1736) 359 There is a proper Use to be made of large Paraphrases. Ibid., There is also a Use of shorter Hints. 1774 Goldsm. Nat. Hist. (1776) VI. 250 With respect to their [sc. animals] uses indeed,..they differ much. 1819 Shelley Cenci iv. iii. 55 Thou wert a weapon in the hand of God To a just use. 1825 Scott Talism. xii, A use of the weapon, sometimes..resorted to, when a missile was necessary. 1849 Macaulay Hist. Eng. vi. II. 64 He..made so dexterous an use of the influence of that cabal that [etc.]. 1875 Jowett Plato (ed. 2) IV. 157 Some of these uses of the word are confusing. |
IV. Purpose served by the thing used.
16. a. A purpose, object, or end,
esp. of a useful or advantageous nature.
| c 1340 Hampole Pr. Consc. 3674 Yhit may it availle to a gude use. 1382 Wyclif Titus iii. 14 Forsothe and oure men lerne for to be bifore in good werkis, to necessarie vses, that thei be not vnfruytouse. c 1425 Wyntoun Cron. ii. 246 He ordaynyt þe iugis set [= seat] To be for þat oysse þe market. 1495 Glanvil Trevisa's Barth. De P.R. v. lxiv. (W. de W.) 182 Skynnes of beestes ben graunted to men for ryght many maners and dyuerse vses. 1552–3 in Feuillerat Revels Edw. VI (1914) 104 Prouided for lynyng of..his officers garmentes and like vses. 1597 Hooker Eccl. Pol. v. lxxix. §1 If we..convert some small contemptible portion thereof to charitable uses. 1623 J. Taylor (Water P.) Discov. by Sea B 8 b, At his death perhaps..he will giue..a little money to Pious vses. 1669 Sturmy Mariner's Mag. ii. vi. 67 This is sufficient for that Use, to shew you the difference between the true Compass and the Steering Compass. 1726 Swift Gulliver i. viii, I had the tallow..for greasing my boat, and other uses. 1736 Act 9 Geo. II, c. 36 Many large..Alienations or Dispositions made by..Persons, to Uses called Charitable Uses. 1818 Shelley Julian & Maddalo 100, I..saw..A building on an island; such a one As age to age might add, for uses vile. 1842 Tennyson Day-Dream 201 To what uses shall we put The wildweed-flower that simply blows? |
b. With limiting genitive
phr. or
poss. pron.| 1382 Wyclif Exod. xxx. 37 Siche a makynge ȝe shulen not make into ȝoure owne vses. 1535 Coverdale Baruch vi. 10 The prestes..take the golde and syluer from them, and put it to their owne vses. 1550 Extr. Aberd. Reg. (1844) I. 277 That tha may caus mak inuintour thairof to be keipit to the vsis of the altaragis thairof in tymes cuming. 1600 Shakes. 2 Hen. IV, ii. i. 127 (Q. 1), You haue..made her serue your vses both in purse and in person. 1654 Nicholas Papers (Camden) II. 43 There is some oweing to me, that I have layd out for his Highnes uses. 1673 Ray Journ. Low C. 36 To cast the Rain Water..into a large Cistern, where it is kept for the uses of the House. |
† c. The provision, supplying, or maintenance
of something.
Obs. rare.
| 1382 Wyclif 2 Sam. xxiv. 22 Hast thou..a wayn, and ȝockis of oxen into the vse of trees [1388 in to vss of wode]. 1427 Cov. Leet Bk. 110 Dyuers somes..to go to þe vce of vestments of þe Trinite chirche. 1496 Ibid. 572 Euery other person [to pay]..xx d. to þe vse of þe Cundith. 1497 Ibid. 587. |
† d. A part of a sermon or homily devoted to the practical application of doctrine.
Obs.| 1631 Massinger Emperor East iii. ii, I am so tir'd With your tedious exhortations, doctrines, vses, Of your religious morality. 1641 Brome Joviall Crew Ded., I will winde up all, with a Use of Exhortation. 1679 South Serm. 43, I proceed now to the Uses which may be drawn from the Truths delivered. 1734 Watts Relig. Juv. (1789) 81 In his last sermon he had an use of reproof, for some vices which were practised..in his parish. 1816 Scott Old Mort. xvii, A..devout, Christian woman, whom many thought as good as himself at extracting a doctrine or an use. Ibid. xviii, The discourse..was divided into fifteen heads, each of which was garnished with seven uses of application. |
| fig. 1632 Massinger Maid of Hon. i. i, When you had been Cudgell'd well twice or thrice, and from the doctrine Made profitable uses. |
e. Forging. (See
quots. 1861 and 1875.)
| 1783 H. Cort in Patents Manuf. Iron (1858) 10 Peculiar method..of preparing, welding, and working various sorts of iron, and of reducing the same into uses by machinery. 1861 Sir W. Fairbairn Iron 102 The forging of ‘uses,’ that is,..those peculiar forms so extensively in demand for steam-engines, steam-boats, railway carriages, and other works. 1863 Appleby's Handbk. Mach. & Iron Work 49 Forgings... Boss Uses. 1875 Knight Dict. Mech. 2685 Use,..a slab of iron welded to the side of a bar near the end, to be drawn down by the hammer in prolongation of the length of the bar. |
17. The fact or quality of serving the needs or ends
of a person or persons.
Catch-phr.
— for the use of, with the
obj. of
of preposed.
| a 1340 Hampole Psalter iv. 8 Whet, wyne and oile..ere mast nedful til mannys oise. 1375 Barbour Bruce xix. 196 [They] distroyit the men ilkane, And till thar oys thar gude has tane. c 1400 Mandeville (Roxb.) xviii. 84 Of þe whyte peper sell þai bot lytill,..bot kepez it till þair awen vse. c 1450 Lovelich Merlin 946 (Kölbing), God to his ws hath taken it, trewly. c 1480 Henryson Pract. Medecyne 47 This vntment is rycht ganand for ȝour awin vs. 1522 in Ripon Ch. Acts (Surtees) 357 To the usse and behowe of Cecill my wiffe. 1560 Bible Judith xii. 15 Her maide..spred for her skinnes..which she had receiued of Bagoes for her daily vse. ― Wisdom xv. 7 The potter..facioneth euerie vessel with labour to our vse. 1617 J. Taylor (Water P.) Observ. & Trav. fr. London to Hamburgh F 2, Hares..killed..and carried to the markets by cart-loads, and sold for the vse of the honourable owners. 1657 Milton Lett. State Wks. 1851 VIII. 387 Rice, Sugar, and Coffee..for the use of the Grand Seignior. 1713 Berkeley Hylas & Phil. i. Wks. 1871 I. 273 Common language..is framed by and for the use of the vulgar. 1774 Goldsm. Nat. Hist. (1776) I. 230 We shall never know whether the things of this world have been made for our use. 1821 Scott Pirate ii, A bargain of rock-cod, purchased..for the use of the family. 1895 Scully Kafir Stories 106 Food for the use of the Zulus on the journey would be provided. |
| 1959 [see Mallaby-Deeley]. 1971 D. Francis Bonecrack iv. 44 There was..an armchair of sorts, visitors for the use of. |
18. Law. The advantage
of a specified person or persons in respect of profit or benefit derived from lands or tenements, etc.
In
AF. the original
us (also
use) was later replaced by the unrelated forms
oes,
eus,
eups,
ops,
oeps: see
oeps.
| 1393 in Collect. Topogr. (1836) III. 256 A rente charge paiable to the vs and profit of his chanterie there. 1429 Rolls of Parlt. IV. 344/1 Any of the seide Lordes shal,..to thair use or behove, receyve or take any astate, feffement, or possession of landys..that standith..in debate. 1442 Ibid. V. 57/1 The said Feffees haue no title ner interest therynne, but only upon trust, and to his use, to execute his will. 1487 Act 3 Hen. VII, c. 4 All dedes of gyfte of goodes and catalles..made of trust to thuse of that persone or persones that made the same dede of gyfte. 1535–6 Act 27 Hen. VIII, c. 10 §4 Where..purchase of any Landes..shalbe made..to any other person or persones.. to the use and behove of the seid Husbond and Wife or to the use of the wife. 1599 in Roxb. Ball. (1886) VI. p. xxvi, The somme of sixteene poundes of myne Restinge in the handes and keepinge for me and to my use of Richard Oringe. 1729 Jacob Law Dict., Cestui que Use..signifies him to whose Use any other Man is enfeoffed of any Lands or Tenements. 1766 Blackstone Comm. II. 271 The lands were granted..to nominal feoffees to the use of the religious houses. 1818 Cruise Digest (ed. 2) I. 338 If the heir refuses to come in.., the Lord..may seize the estate to his own use. 1843 Penny Cycl. XXVI. 65 If a feoffment had been made to A for life to his own use, with remainder to B in fee for the use of C. |
19. Office; function; service.
| 1509 Hawes Past. Pleas. xxiv. (Percy Soc.) 108 This is the use of the eyene intere, To se all thynges. 1560 Bible (Genev.) 1 Chron. xxviii. 15 For the candlestickes of siluer,..and the lampes thereof, according to the vse of euerie candlesticke. a 1718 Prior Alma ii. 398 Observe but in these Neighb'ring Lands, The diff'rent Use of Mouths and Hands. 1729 Law Serious C. iv. 47 Things may, and must differ in their use. 1811 A. T. Thomson Lond. Disp. (1818) 442 The use of the sand in these processes is to prevent the amber..from passing over into the receiver. 1858 Sears Athan. xviii. 161 It performs its use in the grand economy. |
20. a. The character, property, or quality which makes a thing useful or suitable for some purpose; capability for securing some end; usefulness, utility; advantage, benefit.
| 1598 J. Manwood Lawes Forest To Rdr., The necessarie vse and common good, that may arise..by the publishing of this Treatise. 1628 Prynne Cens. Cozens 40, I would willingly learne but this much..: what vse there is of these Deuotions..in our Church or State? 1667 Milton P.L. vii. 346 God made two great Lights, great for thir use To Man. 1700 Locke Hum. Und. (ed. 4) iv. vii. §14, I may have reason to think their use is not answerable to the great Stress which seems to be laid on them. 1712 Steele Spect. No. 492 ¶2 Here's a little Country Girl that's very cunning, that makes her use of being young and unbred. 1759 Johnson Rasselas xxxi, He that has built for use, till use is supplied, must begin to build for vanity. 1780 Bentham Princ. Legisl. (1789) p. ccxcv, A few words, for the purpose of giving a general view of the method of division here pursued,..may have their use. 1853 Kane Grinnell Exp. xxix. (1856) 248 Her position changes so constantly that there is little use of recording it. 1878 T. Hardy Ret. Native ii. ii, Is there any use in saying what can do no good, aunt? 1880 Mrs. Forrester Roy & V. I. 3 What is the use of making up my mind. |
b. In the
phr. to or of (no, little, etc.) use.
| (a) 1382 Wyclif Wisdom xiii. 13 To noon vse, a crokid tree..he maketh. 1542 Udall tr. Erasm. Apoph. 157 b, Denying the arte of geometrie..to bee to veraye litle use or purpose. 1611 Bible Tobit vi. 6 To what vse is..the gall of the fish? 1643 Cromwell Lett. & Sp. (1871) II. 288 It is to no use any man's saying he will do this or that. 1868– in Yks. and Oxford dialect use (Eng. Dial. Dict.). |
| (b) 1627 J. Taylor (Water P.) Armado, or Navy of Land Ships C 1, The Snarle, a small dogged Pinnace, of more vse then profit. 1634 Sir T. Herbert Trav. 35 A Castle planted with great Ordnance and Ammunition, but of small vse. 1663 Bp. Patrick Parab. Pilgr. xxxvi, It is a thing of great Use, and great Value. 1711 Addison Spect. No. 121 ¶2 Beasts and Birds..that are of Assistance and Use to Man. 1735 Johnson Lobo's Abyssinia Voy. iv. 27 Some pieces of Callicoe, which were of the same Use as Money. 1810 Crabbe Borough xx. 322 To be of use Would pleasant thoughts and heavenly hopes produce. 1859 F. E. Paget Curate Cumbersworth 354, I had good reason to hope that I was being of use at Roost. 1880 Geikie Phys. Geog. ii. 83 Snow is of great use in winter, as it protects vegetation from being nipped by severe frost. |
c. With ellipse of
prep.| 1820 Shelley Let. to Maria Gisborne 222 Alas! it is no use to say, ‘I'm poor!’ 1837 J. H. Newman Lett. (1891) II. 230 From their thinking it no use doing good, unless it is talked about. 1874 G. W. Dasent Half a Life III. 46 Fifty years before it might have been some use to him. 1886 ‘H. Conway’ Living or Dead xxv, Rothwell [tried]..to look as much at his ease as possible. But it was no use. |
21. a. Need or occasion for using or employing; necessity, demand, exigency. Freq.
to have use for (or † of).
| 1604 Shakes. Oth. iii. iii. 319 Giue it [sc. a handkerchief] me... I haue vse for it. 1607 Norden Surv. Dial. 213 For there is no Country..but hath vse of timber. 1633 Bp. Hall Hard Texts, N.T. 95 Not out of any necessity or use of nature..he took that fish. 1672 Mede's Wks. (ed. 3) Life p. xxxvi, A Book of Mathematicks which he had great use of, and had long thirsted after. 1695 Dryden Parallel Poetry & Paint. Ess. (ed. Ker) II. 140 Our author calls them figures to be let; because the picture has no use of them. 1826 Andrew Scott Poems 39 The warld will still have use for you and me. 1854 H. Miller Sch. & Schm. vii, There was no use, they said, for being in the Devil's Cave so late. |
b. In the
phr. to have no use for, to be set against; to wish to have nothing to do with; to dislike.
orig. U.S.| 1872 Harper's Mag. June 158/2 He was an obstinate fellow..and moreover, he ‘had no use for’ the defendant any way. 1887 Trans. Amer. Philol. Assoc. XVII. 46, I have no use for him—don't like him. 1896 Harper's Mag. XCII. 771/1 Bülow..spoke his mind freely to his adjutant. ‘I have no use for Bernadotte,’ said he. 1903 ‘H. S. Merriman’ Last Hope xl, The Marquis had..spoken in French, and the Captain had no use for that language. |
V. 22. attrib. and
Comb., as
use-value;
use-established,
use-making,
use-trampler;
use-forge (see 16 e and
forge n.);
use immunity U.S. Law (see
quot. 1972);
use-inheritance (see
quot. 1890);
use-life, useful life. Also
use-man, -money.
| 1608 Dod & Cleaver Expos. Prov. ix–x. 15 A profitable use-making of the undeserued favour..shewed unto them. 1617 Hieron Wks. (1620) II. 290 The well vnderstanding and right vse-making of these. 1873 Iron 5 Apr. 356/1 A use forge with a 45-cwt. double-acting Nasmyth's steam hammer. 1887 Browning Parleyings, Apollo & Fates 61 What if we granted—law flouter, use-trampler—His life at the suit of an upstart? 1887 tr. Marx' Capital I. 2 The utility of a thing makes it a use-value. Ibid., Use-values become a reality only by use or consumption. 1890 W. P. Ball Effects Use & Disuse 23 The increasing difficulty of complex evolution by natural selection is no proof whatever of use-inheritance. [Note.] I venture to coin this concise term to signify the direct inheritance of the effects of use and disuse in kind. 1897 Month April 364 ‘Mass,’ in the honest, use-established sense, means the Roman Mass. |
| 1950 Chambers's Jrnl. Mar. 191/2 It is now reported that the magnesium type of dry-cell has a ‘use-life’ of about thirty hours. 1972 Computers & Humanities VII. 87 Interactive systems on today's scale are very recent; for the program designer there are obstacles of rapid change, little standardization, and relatively high development expenses in relation to the probable use-life of the programs. |
| 1972 New Yorker 25 Mar. 86/3 The suggested revision, known as ‘use immunity’, would prevent anyone who was compelled to testify from being prosecuted on the basis of that testimony. 1976 Ibid. 19 Apr. 42/3 Under use-immunity law, however, people who were compelled to testify could later be prosecuted as long as the government did not base its case against them directly or indirectly, on their own testimony. |
▪ II. use, v. (
juːz)
Forms: α. 3–4, 7
vsen (5
vsyn,
vson), 3–4
usen (5
usyn), 4–7
vse (3–4
vsi, 4
vsy, 4–5
vsie,
Sc. 5–6
wse, 6
ws,
vsz), 4–
use (4
usy, 8
ues); 5
ouse,
yowese, 6 (9
dial.)
youse, 9
dial. yuse, 5 (9
dial.)
hewse, 6
euse (9
dial. ewse). β.
north. and
Sc. 4
oise, 4–6
oys,
oyse, 5–6
oyss (5
oysse,
os,
ose), 6
oiss; 4
wyse, 5
vyse, 6
vise.
[ad. OF. user (also F.), useir, usser, uiser, etc. (= Sp. and Pg. usar, It. usare, med.L. ūsāre), f. L. ūs-, ppl. stem of ūtī: see prec.] I. 1. a. trans. To celebrate, keep, or observe (a rite, custom, etc.); to pursue or follow as a custom or usage.
| a 1240 Lofsong in O.E. Hom. I. 207 Þurh alle þe oðre sacremenz þet holi chirche foluweð and useð. c 1290 Beket 518 in S. Eng. Leg. I. 121 Customes here weren bi-fore i-vsed, ich onder-stonde. 1340 Ayenb. 48 Vor alle þe sacremens of holi cherche me ssel vsi clenliche. 1387 Trevisa Higden (Rolls) IV. 351 Þat manere is ȝit i-used in the chirche of Rome. c 1400 Destr. Troy 9097 Þen ordant was..a fynerall fest, þat frekes þen vset. ? a 1450 Compend. Treat. in Roy Rede me, etc. (Arb.) 183 The lettre of the ceremonies of ye olde lawe sleyth the Iewes and them that nowe vsen them. c 1450 St. Cuthbert (Surtees) 2076 Þai vsed customes vnstabill. 1504 in Leadam Star Chamber Cases (Selden Soc. 1911) II. 286 Contrare to ther costomez out of tyme of mynde vsed. c 1592 Marlowe Jew of Malta iv. ii, Bar. No, 'tis an order which the Fryars vse. 1622 J. Taylor (Water P.) Farew. Tower-bottles A 2 b, So..did Customes change: The Ancient vse, vs'd many yeares before, Was solde. 1625 Purchas Pilgrims II. 1132 The like custom is vsed throughout the Dominions of Mutezuma. a 1648 Ld. Herbert Hen. VIII (1683) 7 That the Crown might be put on the King's Head with that Solemnity, which in former times was used. 1889 Meiklejohn New Hist. Eng. i. 11 Many noble Britons assumed and used the Roman toga,..and the customs and manners of their conquerors. |
† b. (to be) used, to constitute a use, usage, or custom; to be usual or customary. Also (
b) with
to (and inf.), or
that (and clause).
Obs.| 13.. Gosp. Nicodemus (G.) 122 Of Emperoures þat are had bene Þis was used in þat land. 1387 Trevisa Higden (Rolls) V. 145 It was i-ordeyned þe Lente fastynge of Crist..schulde bygynne and dure as it is now i-used. 1422 Yonge tr. Secreta Secret. 247 Aftyr the..houre of the day y-custumet or vset. 1550 Crowley Last Trumpet 1231 Thou shalt not fynd that thou maiest..leauy a great fine More then hath bene vsed alwayes. 1582 Stanyhurst æneis i. (Arb.) 28 Of Tyrian virgins too weare thus a quiuer is vsed [L. mos est]. 1648 Gage West Ind. 88, I thought..of Indians turned into the shape of beasts (which amongst some hath been used). 1650 in W. S. Perry Hist. Coll. Amer. Col. Ch. (1860) I. 2 It shall be lawful, as it hath been used heretofore, to make Probates of wills..in the Colony. |
| (b) 1377 Langl. P. Pl. B. xviii. 377 It is nouȝt vsed in erthe to hangen a feloun Ofter þan ones. c 1450 in Surtees Misc. (1890) 62 It is usyd that the sayd Burgese schall chese..two ale tastars. 1487 Sc. Acts, Jas. III (1814) II. 182/2 Ane vthir to..haue thare feis as wes vsit to be gevin to..changeoures in ald tymes. 1523 Fitzherb. Husb. §15 It is vsed in many countreys, the husbandes to haue an oxe-harowe..made of sixe smal peces of timbre. 1548 Hall Chron., Hen. VII, 50 b, It was also vsed that he..shoulde likewise..be..committed to the Bishoppes pryson. 1577 Fulke Answ. True Christian 42 From the beginning it was not vsed to praye for the deade. 1621 Bp. R. Montagu Diatribæ 531 It was in old times vsed..for men to shaue themselues. 1642 tr. Perkins' Prof. Bk. ii. §119. 53 Forasmuch as it is commonly used to write a deed before it be sealed. |
† 2. To observe or comply with (a law, rule, etc.); to enforce or put into practice.
Obs.| a 1300 Cursor M. 9478 Þis es bot lagh..Vsed in curth þis ilk dai. c 1320 Cast. Love 240 In þe kynges court ȝit vche day Me vseþ þulke selue lay. c 1350 Will. Palerne 5240 Alle luþer lawes þat long hadde ben vsed. 1440 Paston Lett. I. 40 The Duk..hath made his oath upon the Sacrement, and usyd it, never for to bere armes ayenst Englond. c 1450 St. Cuthbert (Surtees) 2076 To vse þair reule þai [sc. monks] had na wille. Ibid. 3706 Our haly faders statutes,..Vyse ȝe þaim besyly as ȝow aghte. 1526 Tindale 1 Tim. i. 8 We knowe that the lawe is god, yf a man vse it lawfully. 1609 Skene Reg. Maj. 3 Al Barons sall receaue, and vse the lawes, as they are vsed in the Kings court. |
3. To prosecute or pursue (some course of action); to do, perform, carry on. Now
rare.
| α a 1352 Minot Poems (ed. Hall) ii. 30 Þe Skotte..vses all threting with gaudes and gile. 1444 Rolls of Parlt. V. 121 The seid Co[mun]alte..may use accion of the somes of money accorded to the payd to the seid Co[mun]alte, ayeinst him. 1454 Ibid. 255 That all manere of persones..use thaire continuel abood uppon thaire said Office. 1547 Boorde Introd. Knowl. 217 They be lyght fyngerd and vse pyking. 1573 Tusser Husb. (1878) 113 Use now in thy rie, little raking or none. 1648 Gage West Ind. x. 35 The chiefest Market place, where all the buying and selling was used. 1670 Narborough Jrnl. in Acc. Sev. Late Voy. i. (1694) 52 They use bathing and stuping those places. 1765–8 Erskine Inst. Law Scot. ii. ix. §4 The superior's consent is presumed, from his not using acts of interruption. 1873 W. Stokes Rapid Writing 100 The Art of using writing should be..inculcated by all teachers. |
| β 1375 Barbour Bruce x. 565, I oysit lang that travalling, So that I can that rod ga richt. c 1425 Wyntoun Cron. vii. x. 3528 In Ingilwode and Bernnysdaile Þai oyssit al þis tyme þar trawale. c 1450 St. Cuthbert (Surtees) 7008 At his graue he vysit praying. 1513 Douglas æneid xii. xiv. 110 Oys furth thy chance: quhat nedis proces mar? |
† 4. a. To ply or carry on (an occupation, profession, etc.); to follow or exercise; to discharge the functions of (an office).
Obs.| 1375 Barbour Bruce xii. 414 Men that oysis thai mysteris. 1382 Wyclif 1 Chron. xxiv. 2 Eleasar vsede presthode, and Ythamar. c 1440 Generydes 1176 Wherefore they calle vs noo good lauenders, And we haue vsid it thus many yerez. 1495 Acta Dom. Conc. (1839) 415/1 In caise..Alexander haid remanit..nocht within þe said toune nor vsand þe Course of merchandise þerintill. 1542 Reg. Cupar Abbey II. 22 We will at nane hant nor vs the office of brewing, bakin, selling of wyne [etc.]. 1556 Rec. Inverness (New Spald. Cl.) I. 2 Aganis the law the sayd Thom..dispresit him wsand his office. 1585 T. Washington tr. Nicholay's Voy. ii. viii. 42 [If] she will continue in that occupation, she..may vse it at her pleasure. 1611 Bible 1 Tim. iii. 10 Then let them vse the office of a Deacon, being found blamelesse. 1652 Needham tr. Selden's Mare Cl. 197 Merchants..using Commerce in the very Sea with the Inhabitants. 1665 in De Foe Plague (1754) 48 That no Searcher..be permitted to use any public Work or Employment. 1721 Perry Daggenh. Breach 115 Commanders of Ships, particularly those who use the Southern Trade. 1773 Life N. Frowde 75 An Implement Nr. M‘Namara had worn ever since he used the Mediterranean Trade. |
| transf. 1730 Lett. to Strickland rel. Coal Trade 16 A Number of Ships crouded into the [Coal] Trade, that did not use it before. |
† b. To follow or pursue (a manner or course of life).
Obs.| c 1340 Hampole Prose Tr. 25 Our Lorde forto stere som forto vse this medlid liffe toke [etc.]. a 1450 Knt. de la Tour (1868) 12 [She] used the blessed lyf that any woman might. 1483 Caxton Gold. Leg. 195 b/1 Whan she had lyued and usyd thys lyf fyfty yere. 1578 Scot. Poems 16th C. (1801) II. 125 The wicked life that I did vse. 1821 Scott Pirate xxxi, I am determined to turn honest man, and use this life [sc. piracy] no longer. |
c. To spend or pass (a period of time) in a certain way. (Now only as implying sense 7.)
| 1477 Earl Rivers (Caxton) Dictes 5 He is happy that usith his dayes in doyng couenable thinges. a 1533 Ld. Berners Huon lxxxii. 256 In grete doloure & payne I haue vsyd my youth. 1538 Starkey England i. i. 24 So now also vse your tyme..to the mayntenance..of the same. 1607 Shakes. Timon iii. i. 39, I haue obserued thee alwayes for..one that knowes what belongs to reason; and canst vse the time wel. 1613 Sidney's Arcadia iii. 390 Now me thinks it time To goe vnto the Bride, and vse this day. 1873 W. Stokes Rapid Writing 43 Use your spare moments in practising Writing. |
† d. To frequent (another's company).
Obs.| 1547 Boorde Brev. Health cccxxix. C vij, Fyrste lyue out of syn..and than vse honest myrth and honest company. 1564 Child-Marriages (1897) 101 As report is, she hath vsid the evill Companie of William Gallimour. 1599 Shakes., etc. Pass. Pilgr. 422 They that fawn'd on him before Use his company no more. |
5. a. To engage in, practise (a game, etc.).
| 1320–30 Horn Ch. 42 To harpe wele, and play at ches, And al gamen that used is. c 1380 Sir Ferumb. 2225 Summe þay vseþ a maner of play to caste wel a spere. 1557 North Gueuara's Diall Pr. i. ii. (1568) 163 They agree to their scollers to vse some pastyme. 1581 Southampton Court Leet Rec. (1906) ii. 221 Dennys Edwardes..comenly vssethe vnlawffull games. 1626 Bacon Sylva §299 Use not Exercise and a Spare Diet;..if much Exercise, then a Plentifull Diet. c 1636 A. Stafford Just Apol. (1860) p. xxxix, To shoote in..Cross-Bowes, and to vse diverse other Recreations. 1764 in Willis & Clark Cambridge (1886) III. 539 A..corpulent Man, who lived freely and used no Exercise. ? 1770 T. Bridges Homer 11 Let discord cease, Use War abroad, at home use Peace. 1794 S. Williams Vermont 83 In such a situation, he uses no exercise. 1801 Strutt Sports & Past. ii. ii. 74 In old time,..wrestling was more used than it has been of later years. |
† b. To have experience, or be engaged, in (war).
| c 1440 Alph. Tales 76 Alde knyghtis þat..vsyd batels & cuthe gyff gude cowncell. 1474 Caxton Chesse ii. iv. (1883) 44 He had longe tyme vsid the warre. 1523 Ld. Berners Froissart I. cclxxv. 167 b/2 He had long tyme vsed the warre, and sene great experience therin. |
6. a. To put into practice or operation; to carry into action or effect.
In very
freq. use, with a variety of objects,
c 1340–
c 1610.
| α 13.. Gaw. & Gr. Knt. 2106 He is a mon methles, & mercy non vses. 13.. Coer de L. 4670 Yiff thou it [sc. clemency] use, Thou dedest nought as I the bad. c 1400 Ywaine & Gaw. 36 For trowth and luf es al bylaft, Men uses now another craft. c 1440 Alph. Tales 353 He vsid robborie, avowtrie, inceste. 1483 Caxton G. de la Tour e vj b, He..vsed all euyl dedes whiche he couthe ymagyne to doo. 1542 Brinklow Lament. 1 Certayne greate vyces vsed therin [sc. in London]. 1550 Baldwin Mor. Philos. N vi, To vse vertue is perfecte blessednesse. 1589 Greene Menaphon (Arb.) 88 Twas a good world when such simplicitie was vsed, sayes the old women of our time. 1616 R. C. Times' Whistle (1871) 50 All lawyers I cannot heerof accuse, For some there are that doe a conscience vse. 1644 Milton Areop. (Arb.) 37 The like severity no doubt was us'd. a 1680 Butler Rem. (1759) I. 15 She [Nature] affects so much to use Variety, in all she does. 1710 W. King Heathen Gods & Heroes 41 Her other Brother Neptune used the same Freedom with her. 1758 S. Hayward Serm. p. xiv, It is certainly a minister's duty..to use plainness and faithfulness. 1839 F. A. Kemble Resid. in Georgia (1863) 76 They consider it the lowest degradation in a white to use any exertion. 1898 Scribner's Mag. Dec. 690 It was her regular smile, the one she used every evening. |
| β a 1340 Hampole Psalter, etc. 497 Oysand sorow for my syn. c 1375 Sc. Leg. Saints xii. (Matthias) 108 Quhen na man mycht se, Þane wald he oyse sic cruelte. 1447 O. Bokenham Seyntys (Roxb.) 167 For þe facundye wych she oysyd þere. c 1500 Lancelot 1699 To mych to oys familiaritee Contempnyng bryngith one to hie dugre. |
b. To practise or exercise towards, against, or upon others.
| 1387 Trevisa Higden (Rolls) VII. 17 He wolde have i-used þe strengþe of religioun, but þe cruelte of Gascoyns wolde nouȝt suffre it. 1388 Wyclif Matt. xx. 25 Thei that ben gretter, vsen power on hem. c 1460 Fortescue Abs. & Lim. Mon. ii. (1885) 111 Vsing vppon thaim the lordshippe that is callid dominium regale tantum. 1470 Henry Wallace vi. 895 Sic salusyng I oyss till Inglis men. 1542 Udall in Lett. Lit. Men (Camden) 4 It maye please your maistership to use towardes me sum moderacion. 1598 R. Bernard tr. Terence, Andria Prol., I pray you..use not parcialitie, and diligently weigh the matter. 1632 Massinger & Field Fatal Dowry v. i, Therefore use a conscience..To me. 1653 Holcroft Procopius, Goth. Wars i. 6 The Goths..had used hostility upon Gratiana. 1656 Earl of Monmouth tr. Boccalini's Advts. fr. Parnass. i. xv, Ingratitude which moral Philosophers were daily seen to use towards their benefactors. 1702 Eng. Theophrast. 124 The violences we commit upon our selves are oftentimes more painful, than those which other people use towards us. 1737 Whiston Josephus, Antiq. vi. iii. §4 The ungrateful conduct they have used towards me. 1822 Shelley tr. Calderon iii. 78 Tell me all, what poisonous Power Ye use against me. |
II. 7. a. To make use of (some immaterial thing) as a means or instrument; to employ for a certain end or purpose.
| α c 1315 Shoreham i. 532 Wel bet may god to oure prou Dyuerse formes vsy. c 1340 Hampole Pr. Consc. 3503, I rede ilk man..Þat he use þa ten thinges sere Þat fordus..Alle veniel syns. c 1375 Sc. Leg. Saints iii. (Andrew) 946 Vndir ȝour proteccione to luf in contemplacione, and warldly thingis to refuse and hewinly thing sine to wse. c 1400 St. Alexius (Laud 622) 672, I graunt wel þat it be so, Þine bedes ȝif þou wilt ouse. c 1410 Lantern of Liȝt 132 Þat helpe may cum of vsing Goddis word. 1464 Rolls of Parlt. V. 561/2 The preferment of labour and occupacion, such as hath been used by the makyng of the seid Cloth. 1537 Cromwell in Merriman Life & Lett. (1902) II. 107 That vising your effortes ernestly..in other pointes of your charche & comission you schalbe playne with the said depute. 1568 Grafton Chron. II. 52 He so vsed the matter with Adrian the fourth.., that he was by him dispensed of his aforesayde othe. 1592 Arden of Feversham i. i. 256 As sharpe witted Poets..Vse humble promise to their sacred Muse. 1614 T. Davies (Heref.) Eclogue 198, I nill vsen any skill so mytch..as this so nice, and free. 1671 Milton P.R. ii. 380 And who withholds my pow'r that right to use? 1732 Bp. Berkeley Alciphr. v. §35 Freedom is either a blessing or a curse as men use it. 1766 Goldsm. Vic. W. xxi, His generous patron..judged it highly expedient to use dispatch, lest [etc.]. 1819 Shelley Cenci i. i. 127 The third of my possessions! I must use Close husbandry, or gold..Falls from my withered hand. 1877 Sparrow Serm. xiv. 183 The blessings of this life generally, he says, the good man uses but does not serve. 1884 tr. Lotze's Metaph. 433 Using the images of processes which themselves spring from it in a way we cannot explain. |
| β a 1340 Hampole Psalter Prol. (1884) 4 He spekis of crist..in þat at he oises þe voice of his seruantes. c 1375 Sc. Leg. Saints xxvi. (Nicholas) 730, I pray ȝou Þat ȝe wil oys it [sc. the legend] dewotly. a 1400 in Hampole's Wks. (Horstm.) I. 261 Þan awe it maste of alle othire Orysouns to be Oysede in all-haly kyrke. |
b. With
to (and inf., or
n. denoting purpose).
| c 1275 Lay. 24293 Moche hii vsede þat craft [= astronomy] to lokie in þan lufte. 1377 Langl. P. Pl. B. x. 129 Þo þat vseth þis hauelounes to blende mennes wittes. 14.. Lydgate's Horse, Shepe & G. 507 in Pol., Rel., & L. Poems (1903) 36 Vse her yiftes & her prerogatives To that same eende. 1486 Bk. St. Albans c v, That an hauke use hir craft all the seson to flye or lefe. 1551 in Feuillerat Revels Edw. VI (1914) 56 In the meane tyme to vse soche dilligence to his furnyture, as shall seme to you expedyent. 1578 Timme Calvin on Gen. 109 Sacrifices were used of the holy fathers, to celebrate the benefits of God. 1644 Direct. Publique Worship 32 Endeavours ought to be used to convince him. 1728 Veneer Sincere Penitent Pref. p. x, The emperor was obliged to use all his authority to make him leave Antioch. 1798 S. & Ht. Lee Canterb. T. II. 3 The arguments used by Lady Lettingham to detain her brother. 1821 Scott Kenilw. xxxviii, Until she had used her own efforts to have her rights acknowledged by him. 1874 Green Short Hist. vii. 409 Elizabeth used the daring blow to back her negotiations for peace. |
c. To employ (a standard, type, etc.).
| a 1300 Cursor M. 27274 Vsand oþer weght or mette Again þe lagh in land es sett. Ibid. 28437 Again þe lagh..Haf i wysed fals weght and mette. 1387 Trevisa Higden (Rolls) I. 37 Þey haueþ a ȝere of apperynge þat þey vseþ in calculynge and in cronicle. 1563 Shute Archit. B j b, Afterwardes vsing then the measures of the forsayde Pillours. 1662 Stillingfl. Orig. Sacræ i. i. §20 They might use the form of the Phœnician Letters. 1706 Act 6 Anne c. 11 §17 That..the same Weights and Measures shall be used throughout the United Kingdom. 1826 Jas. Veitch Tables, etc. 7 The weight used for Hay..contains 22 pounds..in the Stone. |
8. a. To employ or make use of (an article, etc.),
esp. for a profitable end or purpose; to utilize, turn to account.
| 1303 R. Brunne Handl. Synne 2391 Ȝif þe be leyde a borde to wedde,..Ȝif þou hit vse aȝens hys wylle, holy cherche seyþ þat þou dost ylle. a 1340 Hampole Psalter Prol. (1884) 4 Þis boke of all haly writ is mast oysed in halykyrke seruys. c 1400 Cato's Morals 152 in Cursor M., Þat þou has gitin to þe, vse hit in honeste, & be noȝt calde niþing. c 1450 St. Cuthbert (Surtees) 1098 In swete mylk sethe floure of wheete, And vyse it whils it hase þe heete. 1486 Bk. St. Albans e iv b, At holyrode day he gooth to Ryde, And vsith the bit When he may gete hit. 1556 Rec. Inverness (New Spald. Cl.) I. 2 The serwandis quha wes wyrkand and wssand the bot on the loch. 1585 T. Washington tr. Nicholay's Voy. i. xviii. 21 Vpon high places they vse cesternes, but vppon the plaine..they haue many welles. 1680 Moxon Mech. Exerc. x. 187 When the Wheel is used, its Edge stands athwart the Cheeks of the Lathe. 1736 Bailey Housh. Dict. s.v. Acorns, Both the Acorn and husk, are us'd in many astringent medicines. a 1815 in A. T. Thomson Lond. Disp. 524 It is necessary that all the vessels,..which are used, be of glass. 1833 J. Holland Manuf. Metal II. 36 In the manufacture of surgeons' instruments.., the very best steel..should be exclusively used. 1900 Longm. Mag. March 435, I received for answer that the first flower used felt cooler than the second one. |
b. To wear as an article of apparel.
| c 1375 Cursor M. 2048 (Fairf.), Na breke was vsed þan in lande. c 1375 Sc. Leg. Saints vii. (James Minor) 59 Na claþs of sylk he wald nocht were, bot lenyne clath he oysit ay. a 1450 Myrc Par. Pr. 1032 Hast þou ben prowde of any gyse Of any þynge þat þou dedust vse, Of party hosen, of pykede schone. 1593 Marlowe Hero & Leander i. 31 Buskins of shels all siluered vsed she. a 1660 Contemp. Hist. Irel. (Ir. Archæol. Soc.) I. 183 How the Councell ussed vizards. 1857 R. M. Ballantyne Coral Island iv, As they [sc. boots] fitted his large limbs and feet, he consented at last to use them. 1885 Dillon Fairholt's Costume II. 302 A cloak with a hood, used when travelling. 1889 [see 1]. |
c. To make use of (land, ground, etc.) by working, tilling, or occupying.
| 1573 Tusser Husb. (1878) 17 To get good plot to occupie, and store and vse it husbandlie. 1604 E. G[rimstone] D'Acosta's Hist. Indies iv. 209 Although there be..many mines..as at the Indies, yet they vse none but those of gold and silver. 1641 Aldeburgh Rec. in N. & Q. 12th Ser. IX. 146/2 Of Robt. Fowler for a yeeres fearme for the shopp he useth. Ibid., Recvd: of Henry Lawrence for usinge the Towne ground. 1736 Pegge Kenticisms (E.D.S.) 54 He uses it [sc. land for farming] himself. Ibid., Who uses this or that farm? |
9. To work, employ, or manage (an implement, instrument, etc.); to manipulate, operate, or handle,
esp. to some useful or desired end.
| 13.. K. Alis. 5256 The glevmen useden her tunge; The wode aqueightte so hy sunge. 1340–70 Alex. & Dind. 439 Vs ne likeþ no lome in oure land vse. 1446 Lydg. 2 Nightingale Poems i. 305 The fende..Leying hys lynes and with mony a bayte Wsynge his hokes. 1474 Caxton Chesse ii. iv. (1883) 44 That he had longe tyme vsid..armes. 1539 Bible (Great) Numb. x. 2 That thou mayst vse them [sc. trumpets] to call ye congregacion together. 1582 N. Lichefield tr. Castanheda's Conq. E. Ind. i. iii. 8 b, The people..using the selfe same sorte of darts. 1596 Shakes. Merch. V. ii. ii. 5 Good Launcelot Iobbo, vse your legs,..run awaie. 1611 Bible Jer. xxiii. 31, I am against the prophets..that vse their tongues. 1613 Purchas Pilgrimage (1614) 62 In their festiuals they vsed..musical instruments. 1733 Tull Horse-Hoeing Husb. 295 A Farmer who uses this Plow, may Till in all Weathers. 1765 A. Dickson Treat. Agric. (ed. 2) 154 Of the instruments used in tillage. 1828 Scott F.M. Perth ii, While I form armour and weapons for others, I cannot myself withstand the temptation of using them. 1859 Tennyson Geraint & Enid 900 [I have] wrought too long with delegated hands, Not used mine own. 1880 Encycl. Brit. XI. 504/2 In these investigations he..used a perspicillum or simple lens. |
10. a. To employ (a person, animal, etc.) in some function or capacity,
esp. for an advantageous end.
| 1382 Wyclif 2 Macc. iv. 40 The cumpanyes aȝein rysynge,..Lysymacus almest three thousand aarmyd wickid hondis bygan for to vse, [by] sum tyraunt duyk. c 1470 Henry Wallace v. 27 In Gyllisland thar was that brachell brede, Sekyr off sent to folow thaim at flede. So was scho vsyt on Esk. 1526 Pilgr. Perf. (W. de W. 1531) 299 Vpon the asse, whiche of no man before had ben vsed ne exercised. 1541 Wyatt Declar. Wks. 1816 II. 281, I used Weldon and Sworder..to be spies over Brauncetour. 1598 Florio s.v. Mulatiere, The carriers..driue mules, and vse them to carrie. 1600 W. Watson Decacordon (1602) 214 He had better haue vsed his friend in another matter. 16.. Middleton, etc. Old Law i. i, If you want money, to-morrow use me. 1671 Milton Samson 1499 Were not his purpose To use him further yet in some great service. 1706 Act 6 Anne c. 16 §6 If any Person..shall keep or use any Greyhounds..to kill and destroy the Game. 1802 James Milit. Dict. s.v., He used his choicest troops on that decisive day. 1875 Jowett Plato (ed. 2) V. 54 They used and honoured all the talent which they could find. 1897 A. Lillie Croquet 170 In making your break use your partner in preference to your adversary. |
| transf. c 1600 Breton Daffodils & Primroses Wks. (Grosart) I. 20/1 Some will saie (that many muses vse) There are but nyne, that euer vsde to wryte. |
b. To have sexual intercourse with.
Obs. exc. dial. (
Cf. use n. 3 b.)
| 13.. Gaw. & Gr. Knt. 2426 Alle þay were biwyled With wymmen þat þay vsed. 1382 Wyclif Prol. Bible iii. 6 Thei that han..newly weddid a wyf, and not vsid hir. 1411–2 Hoccleve De Reg. Princ. 1583 For þise causes thow hire vse muste, And for non othir. 1541 Act 33 Hen. VIII, c. 21 If the queene or wife of the prince..stirre any person..to vse or haue carnal knowledge with them. 1565 Child-Marriages (1897) 201 Hit hath bene told this deponent, that they have vsid either other at bed and board, as man and wief. 1584 R. Scot Discov. Witchcr. iv. v. (1886) 63 Manie are so bewitched that they cannot use their owne wives. 1611 Cotgr., Accommoder vne femme, to vse a woman. 1650 Bulwer Anthropomet. 197 Bels of gold,..which they put in when they are of age to use Women. 1889 N.W. Linc. Gloss. (ed. 2) 590 To use women, to commit fornication or adultery. |
11. a. To take or partake of as food, drink, etc.; to consume by eating or drinking. Also
fig.| 13.. E.E. Allit. P. B. 11 Þay teen vnto his temmple & temen to hym seluen,..Þay hondel þer his aune body & vsen hit boþe. 1382 Wyclif Exod. xxx. 38 Eche man that doth lyik thing, that he ful vse [L. perfruatur] the smel [1388 odour] of it, he shal peryshe fro his puplis. 1390 Gower Conf. III. 23 For who that useth that [food] he knoweth Ful selden seknesse on him groweth. a 1450 Myrc Par. Pr. 1940 Ȝef any flye, gnat, or coppe Doun in-to þe chalys droppe,..Vse hyt hol alle i-fere. c 1480 Henryson Lion & Mouse xiii, Quhilk vsis daylie meittis delitious. 1542 Boorde Dyetary xxvi. (1870) 289 And vse these thynges, Cowe mylke, Almon mylke, yolkes of rere egges. 1585 T. Washington tr. Nicholay's Voy. iv. xix. 134 [In] Lent they doe fast.., vsing none other food, then..hearbs, frutes, and certaine leane pottages. 1613 Purchas Pilgrimage (1614) 483 They drinke not wine, nor vse vinegar, but onely water. 1632 Lithgow Trav. iii. 102 Lemmons..the Turkes vse at their meate, as we doe the Verges. 1859 Tennyson Merlin & V. 462 Yea! Love..carves A portion from the solid present, eats And uses, careless of the rest. |
(
b) Now
esp., to take or consume (an alcoholic drink, a narcotic drug) regularly or habitually.
| 1902 Kipling Traffics & Discov. (1904) 15, I don't use rum as a rule, but I did then, because I needed it. 1906 W. Churchill Coniston i. ix. 104 Unlike Jethro, he ‘used’ tobacco. 1921 J. Buchan Path of King xiv. 276 It's curious that a man who don't use tobacco or whisky should be such mighty good company. 1929 D. Hammett Dain Curse xiv. 149 He..picked up the morphine paper... ‘What do you suppose this is doing here?’ he asked. ‘She uses it.’ 1942 J. D. Carr Seat of Scornful iv. 43 ‘Not that I've got any objections to 'em,’ Mr. Morell assured him, alluding to the tobacco and the spirits. ‘Just don't use 'em.’ 1962 J. H. Burn Drugs, Med. & Man x. 106 The best known drugs of addiction are morphine, heroin and cocaine. Somewhat less well known are cannabis..and pethidine. These are the main drugs, other than alcohol, which are used by addicts. 1982 J. Wainwright Anatomy of Riot 31 Okay, a little hash here an' there. He sold it. Maybe he used it. Okay, he used it. |
† b. To partake of (the sacrament); to take or receive (the eucharist).
Obs. (Chiefly
absol.)
| c 1450 St. Cuthbert (Surtees) 7074 Þe sacrement..At þe last he..vsed and toke. 1567 Gude & Godlie B. (S.T.S.) 17 Quha vsis it vnworthilie Ressauis deide eternallie. |
| absol. a 1375 Joseph Arim. 660 Þenne com Ihesu crist..; He vsede of Goddes bord & a writ brouhte. 1389 in Eng. Gilds (1870) 14 From þe leuacioun of cristis body sacrid in til þat þe preest haue vsed. 14.. Pol., Rel., & L. Poems (1906) 122 When þe preste hath don his masse, Vsed, & his hondes wasche. c 1450 St. Cuthbert (Surtees) 7058 When he [sc. a priest] suld vse, In to þe chalys lokes he. |
12. To expend or consume (a commodity, etc.) by use; to exhaust by employment.
| c 1440 Promp. Parv. 522/2 Weryn, or vson, as clothys and other thyngys.., vetero. |
| 1699 Boyer Fr. Dict. s.v. User, They use, waste or burn a great deal of Wood in that House. 1747 H. Glasse Cookery p. ii, A Cook that used six Pounds of Butter to fry twelve Eggs. 1791 R. Mylne 2nd Rep. Thames Navig. 11 The Millers..were using all the Water as fast as possible. 1849 A. Soyer Mod. Housewife 357 [As] the cream..rises in a froth,.. place it on the sieve; continue till all is used. |
13. to use up:
a. To consume (a commodity or stock) by use; to exhaust the supply of.
| 1785 Grose Dict. Vulgar T., Used up, killed; a military saying, originating from a message sent by the late general Guise, on the expedition to Carthagena [etc.]. 1811 Ld. Brougham in Bentham Wks. (1843) X. 462, I cannot possibly better use up (as the housewives say) this little credit. 1847 Illustr. Lond. News 10 July 27/3 To see if there were anything there that had not yet been used up. 1875 Merivale Gen. Hist. Rome li. 406 The genuine Roman race must have been almost used up in the desperate warfare. |
b. To dispose or ‘make an end’ of (a person).
orig. U.S. colloq.| 1833 Jas. Hall Leg. West 38 It's a mercy, Miss, that the cowardly varments hadn't used you up body-aciously. 1863 in Southern Hist. Soc. Papers XII. 220 If you advance..on them in front while I attack them in flank I think we can use them up. |
c. colloq. To exhaust with fatigue, overwork, etc.; to overtire, wear out.
| 1850 Smedley F. Fairlegh x, I saw you were getting used up. 1882 Besant All Sorts xxviii. (1898) 199 The girls grow up narrow-chested, stooping, consumptive. They are used up wholesale. 1884 ‘Edna Lyall’ We Two v, Even if it should use me up, what then? 1887 Daily Tel. 5 March (Encycl. Dict.), We have used up no fewer than six Irish Secretaries in little more than as many years. |
14. to use off or
use out,
= sense 13 a.
| 1812 Southey Omniana II. 2 An obscure..periodical publication, which has long since been used off as ‘winding sheets for herrings’. 1849 Froude Nemesis of Faith 109 The heart will have used out its power, and thoughts..will be unreal still. |
15. to be able to use, to be in need of, to be in a position to benefit from, to want.
colloq.| 1956 ‘N. Shute’ Beyond Black Stump viii. 217 But I could use a river, and the sight of snow on a mountain. 1958 V. Scott Savage Affair ix. 152 Listen..they said they might see their way to an advance. Two-fifty apiece. You could use two hundred and fifty dollars, couldn't you? 1961 R. Godden China Court 258/1 ‘I could use a gin,’ said Bella. 1976 Ulverston (Cumbria) News 3 Dec. 1/6 The tarn is the most beautiful part of the village and The Landings can use some cleaning up. 1977 Oxford Diocesan Mag. July 18/1 We could have used more time to explore this avenue. |
III. 16. a. To speak or converse in (a language); to write or talk.
| c 1275 Lay. 10068 Folk gan to vsi Yrlondes speche. c 1330 Arth. & Merl. 23 Freynsche vse þis gentilman, Ac euerich Inglische Inglische can. c 1500 Droichis Part of Play 111 For never in land quhair Eriche was vsit, To dwell had I dellyte. 1547 Boorde Introd. Knowl. i. (1870) 120 In England is vsed all maner of languages and speches of alyens in diuers Cities. Ibid. xxxv. 210 Where Laten is most vsed. 1628 Milton Vac. Exerc. 8 Hail native Language,..Here I salute thee and thy pardon ask, That now I use thee in my latter task. 1668 Wilkins Real Char. 3 The Language used in Denmark. 1819 Scott Ivanhoe ii, The Prior..using the lingua Franca, or mixed language, in which [etc.]. 1821 ― Kenilw. xxxvi, Can falsehood use thus boldly the language of truth? 1888 Jessopp Visit. Norwich p. xxxix, [He] should be able to use Latin, not merely to understand it. |
b. To employ or give utterance to (words, phrases, etc.); to say, utter.
| a 1340 Hampole Psalter lxxiii. 23 Na wise man oysis gret athis, in þe whilke werid men vpbraydis god of his mercy. c 1374 Chaucer Boeth. ii. pr. ii. (1868) 33, I wolde plete wiþ þee a fewe þinges, vsynge þe wordes of fortune. a 1425 Cursor M. 12050 (Trin.), Teche him..Blessyng to vse & not to ban. 1484 Caxton Fables of æsop i. Pref., Esope..techeth also to be humble and for to vse wordes. a 1500 in Ratis Raving, etc. 98 Oys fare langage in alkyne thinge. 1539 Bible (Great) Ecclus. xxiii. 11 A man y{supt} vseth moch swearing. 1596 Harington Metam. Ajax (1814) 24 [When] such phrases..are used to ribaldry. 1621 Bp. R. Montagu Diatribæ 14 Euery where, either directly, or indirectly, you doe, to use your owne phrase, Cry downe that right. 1655 Stanley Hist. Philos. i. (1687) 27/2 Using speeches, the effect whereof, he afterwards thus exprest in Verse. 1728 Chambers Cycl. s.v. Viscera, This Word is also frequently used singularly, Viscus, to express some particular part of the Entrails. 1729 T. Innes Crit. Essay (1879) 295 Nennius..uses promiscuously the names of Scythæ and Scoti for the same people. 1793 Martyn Lang. Bot. s.v. Leaflets, For the same reason, if we use leaf, we must not use foliole. 1820 Shelley Orpheus 100 Nature must lend me words ne'er used before. 1838 Lytton Leila ii. i, Thou usest plain language, my friend. 1875 Jevons Money (1878) 250 We use a great many words with a total disregard of logical precision. |
17. a. To resort to (a place) frequently or habitually; to frequent or haunt; also, to dwell in. Now
rare.
| c 1400 Mandeville (1839) xxxi. 307 Ȝif the Merchauntes useden als moche that Contre as thei don Cathay. c 1440 Promp. Parv. 512/2 Vsyn, or hawntyn, frequento. 1528 in Leadam Star Chamber Cases (Selden) II. 175 All iiij [have] eusyd & occupyd the market and inhaunsyd the pryse of grayne. 1535 Coverdale Jer. ii. 23 Like a wilde Asse, that vseth the wildernesse. 1603 Shakes. Meas. for M. iii. ii. 231 [I am] Not of this Countrie, though my chance is now To vse it for my time. 1611 in B. Camm Benedictine Martyr in Eng. (1897) 268 The other was Mr. Somers, alias Wilson, who used London altogether. 1658 Cokaine Obstinate Lady i. i, Poems (1874) 55 Use the Tavern once or twice a day. 1686 tr. Chardin's Coronat. Solyman 143 Forty large Barques, such as use the Caspian Sea. 1708 Lond. Gaz. No. 4427/16 He useth the Queen's-head Ale-house. 1725 Sloane Jamaica II. 320 It uses more the low sandy inland parts than the plovers, snipes, &c. 1848 Thackeray Van. Fair xxxviii, He did not fail to tell everybody who ‘used the room’. 1867 Cornh. Mag. Apr. 449 Doubtless also in his sojourn here..he used this house, as our expressive phrase has it. 1884 Good Words June 399/2 Your ordinary thief..may..lord it in the public-houses he ‘uses’. |
b. to use the sea († seas), to practise the calling of a sailor.
Cf. follow v. 9.
| a 1634 Isaacson Andrewes in Fuller Abel Rediv. (1867) II. 156 His father, having most part of his life used the seas. 1681 R. Knox Hist. Ceylon 124 These many years..have I used the seas. 1728 Morgan Algiers II. ii. 223 Rais was then about thirty, and had used the Sea full ten years. 1773 Life N. Frowde 24 His Name was George White,..who had used the Seas from my own Age. 1791 Smeaton Edystone L. §314 John..continued for some time to use the sea. 1894 Pall Mall Mag. Sept. 4 He had used the sea for above thirty years, had built, owned and commanded ships. |
† c. To associate with (a person).
Obs.—1| 1594 in Cath. Rec. Soc. Publ. V. 262 At my being there I could not heare or perceyue he used any Inglishman much. |
18. a. To treat or deal with (a person or thing) in a specified manner; to behave or act towards (another) in a particular way.
In frequent use from
c 1550 to
c 1730.
| 1483 Caxton G. de la Tour g v, They wold use her of an enorme and ouer foule faytte. 1542 Udall Erasm. Apoph. 171 Many noble menne vsen their frendes none other wyse. 1568 Grafton Chron. II. 804 Then he that tolde him the tale vsed him with good wordes. 1590 Marlowe Edw. II, v. ii, Vse Edmund friendly, as if all were well. 1639 in Verney Mem. (1907) I. 106 My Collonel useth me with very greate courtesy. 1680 Otway Orphan ii. iv, But use me gently like a loving Brother. 1709 Steele Tatler No. 11 ¶4, I am used by some People as if Isaac Bickerstaff..was no Body. 1756 C. Smart tr. Hor., Sat. ii. ii, When years shall approach, and feeble age require to be used more tenderly. 1768 Sterne Sent. Journ., Translation, 'Tis..using him worse than a German. 1859 Tennyson Merlin & V. 534 So used as I, My daily wonder is, I love at all. 1863 Kinglake Crimea I. 311 They won France. They used her hard. 1888 ‘J. S. Winter’ Bootle's Childr. iv, I didn't use poor Bill any too well. |
b. refl. To conduct or comport (oneself).
† Also, to resort or repair (
cf. sense 23).
Freq. from
c 1530 to
c 1590.
| c 1470 Henry Wallace xi. 1031 Yhe haiff so lang her oysyt yow allane, Quhill witt tharoff is in till Ingland gane. 1496–7 12 Hen. VII, c. 6 §1 Every persone frely to use theym self to his moost avauntage, without exaccion. 1513 Bradshaw St. Werburge i. 2354 He folowed saynt Werburge counsell, Vsynge hym after her swete ghostly doctryne. 1547 Boorde Brev. Health ccvii, Thus vsynge my selfe, I thanke God I dyd make my selfe whole. 1590 Southampton Court Leet Rec. (1906) ii. 285 Being called before vs, [they] vsed themselves contemtuously. 1621 Lady M. Wroth Urania 307 Who comming to my fathers house, vsed himselfe..insolently. a 1648 Ld. Herbert Hen. VIII (1683) 295 He used himself more like a Fellow to your Highness, than like a Subject. 1653 Nissena 108 Excusing himself for that he had not before used himself with such obsequiousness towards them as he ought. 1860 C. M. Yonge Hopes & Fears I. 387 Her eyes were on the alert to judge how he had been using himself in the last half-year. |
IV. 19. a. To make (a person, etc.) familiar or accustomed by habit or practice; to habituate, accustom; to inure. Freq.
const. † in or
with (something).
In later use
Sc., and chiefly in
pa. pple.;
cf. c below.
| c 1305 St. Edmund Conf. 78 in E.E.P. (1862) 73 In penance he was so wel yused & þeron ȝung ibroȝt Þat..hit ne greuede him riȝt noȝt. a 1340 Hampole Psalter cxviii. 71 It is profetabil till me, þat þou oysid me in sere temptaciouns. 1387 Trevisa Higden (Rolls) VI. 289 He þat was idel..meoveþ hym to batayle þat is i-used in dedes of armes. c 1425 Eng. Conq. Ireland 22 Throgh kynd of Fraunce, we ben vsed in wepene. 1489 Caxton Faytes of A. i. viii. B ij b, To see his men vsed & wel taught in the said art and fait of armes. a 1500 Ratis Raving 32 With wordis of lawte vs thi twnge. c 1586 C'tess Pembroke Ps. lxxvii. xii, A path whereon thy crew As shepherds use their sheep. 1587 Holinshed Chron. (ed. 2) II. Hist. Scotl. 391 This man had accesse unto the queene to plaie at cards, and to use hir with other courtlie pastimes. 1606 Chapman Gentl. Usher v. ii, Using thy husband in those vertuous gifts For which thou first didst choose him. 1711 Countrey-Man's Lett. Curat 85 Many..had been used with the English Liturgie..at London. 1815 Scott Guy M. lv, The like o' them's used wi' graves and ghaists. a 1826 in Child Ball. IV. 98/1 She took my gay lord frae my side, And used him in her company. 1835 D. Webster Orig. Sc. Rhymes 115, I had little been used wi' sic resolute foes. |
| refl. 1534 in Leadam Star Chamber Cases (Selden) II. 211 Compleynaunt hathe vseyd hymselfe in exercysyng the fete of bakyng. 1560 Becon New Catech. Wks. 1564 I. 320 This verye selfe same bodye..whiche vseth it selfe here with the soule in all maner of good workes. |
b. Freq. with
to (and
n. or inf.).
| c 1386 Chaucer Pars. Prol. ¶245 For to vsen a man to doon goode werkes. 1535 Coverdale Ecclus. xxiii. 13 Vse not thy mouth to vnhonest and fylthye talkynge. 1560 J. Daus tr. Sleidane's Comm. 231 b, That they do eschew all..idle talke, and vse their familie to do lykewyse. 1585 T. Washington tr. Nicholay's Voy. iv. i. 114 b, [Hunting being] an argument & occasion to vse men to ryse betimes. c 1643 Ld. Herbert Autobiog. (1824) 70 You shall do well also to use your Horse to Swimming. 1688 Shadwell Sqr. Alsatia ii. i, Some moderate skill in it will use a man to reason closely. 1740 Chesterfield Lett. Oct., To use your ear a little to English verse. 1769 Goldsm. Hist. Rome (1786) I. 402 Having used his body much to antidotes, the poison had but little effect. 1783 Justamond tr. Raynal's Hist. Indies VII. 91 It is not..surprising that the seal..should use her little ones to live under water. 1814 Scott Wav. liv, He wanted to use her by degrees to live without meat. 1873– in dialect use (Eng. Dial. Dict.). 1877 Mrs. Lear tr. Fenelon's Spiritual Lett. 240 So as to wean you like a child, and use you to dry bread instead of milk. |
| refl. c 1305 St. Edmund Conf. 44 in E.E.P. (1862) 72 So longe hi hem vsede þerto. a 1450 Knt. de la Tour (1868) 9 For suche lyff as ye wille contynue, use you to in youre youthe. a 1568 R. Ascham Scholem. ii. (Arb.) 88 For translating, vse you your selfe..to chose out some Epistle..of Tullie. a 1568 in Bannatyne MS. (Hunter. Cl.) 195 In yowtheid vse the to temprance. 1615 tr. De Montfort's Surv. E. Indies 39 Those who have us'd themselves to Tobacco. 1697 Dryden Virg. Georg. i. 63 Use thyself betimes to hear and grant our Pray'rs. 1719 De Foe Crusoe i. (Globe) 211 Using himself to them [sc. garments], at length he took to them very well. 1753 L. M. Accompl. Woman II. 213 We may use ourselves to fear as well as to be bold. a 1818 M. G. Lewis Jrnl. W. Ind. (1834) 296 Mithridates used himself to poisons. a 1850 Keble Lett. (1870) 104 Using themselves when they wake in the night to rise and say the fifty-first Psalm. |
c. More
usu. in
pa. pple. (Const.
to or
† of.)
For the
pronunc. of
used to, see note at sense 21 a.
| c 1480 Henryson Fables, Two Mice 58 To tender meit my stomok is ay vsit. 1483 Caxton G. de la Tour e iv b, So were the seuen Cytees brenned..by cause that they were moche vsed of the fylthe and ordure of lechery. 1526 Pilgr. Perf. (W. de W. 1531) 94 b, Wherby man..be accustomed & vsed to chose..y⊇ thynge that is of lesse goodnes. 1555 Eden Decades i. x. (Arb.) 104 Such as haue byn vsed to owr breade made of wheate. 1607 Topsell Four-f. Beasts 80 It is requisite that they bee alwaie vsed to hand. c 1645 Howell Lett. (1678) 48 This City was us'd to fetch all those Spices. 1682 Lister Godartius Of Insects 54 The Catterpillar..as soon as it perceives any thing it is not us't to. 1720 Mandeville Free Thoughts (1729) 276 St. Poinct..was used to ask, whether the farce..was ready to be acted. 1796 F. Burney Camilla IV. 329 I'm not used to be used in this manner! 1833 Disraeli Cont. Fleming vi. vi, The friar smiled, and was evidently used to this raillery. 1850 Thackeray Pendennis li, A person..used to making sacrifices. 1888 ‘J. S. Winter’ Bootle's Childr. xi, Which..had stirred Terry's heart just as it had been used to stir it years and years ago. |
V. intr. 20. To do a thing customarily; to be in the habit of so acting or doing; to be wont to do. (Chiefly in clauses introduced by
as, and now only literary.)
a. Of persons.
| c 1380 Wyclif Sel. Wks. III. 434 And so shulde perish makyng of prests and doyng of sacraments, as holy Chirche usiþ. c 1400 Mandeville (1839) v. 40 Clothed in..the Sarazines guyse, and as the Sarazines usen. 1473 Reg. Cupar Abbey I. 182 Tha sal tak iijxx of fuderis of petis quhar thair oysit befor. 1533 in Leadam Star Chamber Cases (Selden) II. 205 The boucher..grevyd shall signifie..the name..of any such person..that so vsith. 1596 Spenser State Irel. Wks. (Globe) 645/1 To manure and husband it as good farmors use. 1616 J. Lane Contn. Sqr.'s T. x. 388 This familiar Dove twixt yond twoe kinges went boldlie to and fro, as vsen frendes. 1663 Butler Hud. i. i. 632 We should, as learned Poets use, Invoke the Assistance of some Muse. 1720 Ozell Vertot's Rom. Rep. (1740) II. xii. 237 In the sight of all the Citizens, as the Censors use, when they [etc.]. 1748 Earthquake Peru ii. 161 To kill animals in the same Manner as they always had used. 1791 Smeaton Edystone L. §267 We had got up our stones..as we had used from the beginning. 1816 Wordsw. ‘A little onward’ 30 To push forth His arms, as swimmers use, and plunge..into the ‘abrupt abyss’. 1852 T. L. Peacock Misc. Wks. 1875 III. 364 First, as the truly pious always use, Approach with prayer. 1875 Browning Aristoph. Apol. 365 Die at good old age as grand men use. |
† b. Of things.
Obs. rare.
| 1656 tr. T. White's Peripat. Inst. 152 It varies its figure with every motion as fire uses. 1676 Phil. Trans. XI. 773 In the same manner as the trunk of the lymphaticks uses. |
21. With
to and inf.: To be accustomed or wont
to do something.
In very frequent use from
c 1400, but now only in
pa. tense
used to, with
pronunc. (
juːst tuː,
ˈjuːstʊ), and
colloq. in
did (not) use (or used) to: see also
usen't,
useter;
used to could: see
can v.
1 A. 7.
| α 1303 R. Brunne Handl. Synne 691 For ryche men vse comunly Sweryn [v.r. to swere] grete oþys grysly. Ibid. 2661 c 1385 Chaucer L.G.W. 787 Thisbe, For olde payenys that Idolys heryed Vsedyn tho in feldys to ben beryed. c 1386 ― Reeve's T. 20 A theef he was,..a sly, and vsaunt [v.r. usand] for to stele. c 1440 Gesta Rom. v. 12 His modir vsith euery day gretly to sorowe. 1464 Rolls of Parlt. V. 563/2 Dyvers persones have gretely used to shippe woll..oute of this Reame. 1542 Udall Erasm. Apoph. 43 Such as the beggerye philosophiers..usen to weare. 1550 Southampton Court Leet Rec. (1905) i. 14 Thomas Casberd hathe vsid to sett his carte in the streate. 1596 Spenser F.Q. v. viii. 17 Her name Mercilla most men vse to call. 1612 Webster White Devil i. ii. 202 Your silke-worme useth to fast every third day. 1625 J. King David's Strait 15 As we vse to maligne a Bayliue. 1670 Milton Hist. Eng. vi. 304 The English then useing to let grow on their upper-lip large Mustachio's. 1728 Gay Begg. Op. ii. iv, You are not so fond of me, Jenny, as you use [sic] to be. 1767 Woman of Fashion II. 26 How did we all use to admire her! 1837 Lockhart Scott I. iv. 122 He used to get all the copies of these ballads he could. 1873 C. M. Yonge Pillars of House II. xvi. 105 Did Alda use to be nice, or is it love? 1884 W. C. Smith Kildrostan 53 You used to be a leal, true-hearted girl. 1925 S. Lewis Arrowsmith xviii. 192 Didn't we used to have fun. 1927 E. Hemingway Men without Women 154 He certainly did used to make the fellows he fought hate boxing. 1935 E. Farjeon Nursery in Nineties iii. i. 124 Mama, did you use to be a flirt? 1963 V. Nabokov Gift ii. 117 And now I continually ask myself what did he use to think about in the solitary night. 1974 Radio Times 28 Feb. 25, I suppose I did use to be a prophet of doom. |
| β c 1375 Lay-Folks Mass-Bk. (MS. B) 401 A litel belle men oyse to ryng. c 1425 Wyntoun Cron. i. 1265 Tebany þai oysse to calle In to Grece þe Thebis all. c 1470 Henry Wallace v. 760 Now thow sall feyll how I oys to lat blude. |
b. Predicated of things.
In frequent use from
c 1620 to
c 1675.
| 1445 in Anglia XXVIII. 267 Al goddesses..Haue ioyned her dauncys within thi breste, which vsid hem to receive. 1547 Homilies i. Salvation iii. ¶7 Therfore scripture vseth to saie, that faithe without woorkes dooth iustifie. 1586 J. Chilton in Hakluyt Voy. (1589) 588 Where the ships vse to ride, made fast to ye said wal, with their cables. 1609 Holland Amm. Marcell. 333 What time folkes minds..use to be dull and dead. 1662 Stillingfl. Orig. Sacræ i. i. §6 Jewels do not use to lie upon the surface of the earth. 1684 Contempl. St. Man ii. ix. (1699) 231 Temporal Felicity uses often to end in Eternal Misery. 1726 Leoni Designs 5 b, In that Season of the Year when the Water uses to be lowest. 1778 Hist. Eliza Warwick I. 260 Alas! his absence..did not use thus to affect me! 1810 Scott Lady of L. i. xxi, Yet seemed that tone..Less used to sue than to command. 1839 F. A. Kemble Resid. in Georgia (1863) 245 It is now..the rule, though it used not to be so formerly. 1857 C. M. Yonge in Monthly Packet Jan. 34 ‘Things didn't use to be so stupid when Ned was there!’ sobbed Gilbert. 1884 F. M. Crawford Rom. Singer I. 35 They used to be only a baiocco apiece. 1983 Listener 10 Feb. 31 (heading) Adrenalin sports are big. TV didn't used to be one. |
† c. In passive construction.
Obs.| 1523 Fitzherb. Husb. §132 If a tree be heeded, and vsed to be lopped and cropped. 1607 Shakes. Cor. iii. iii. 25 He hath bene vs'd Euer to conquer. a 1648 Ld. Herbert Hen. VIII (1683) 399 As concerning Annates used to be paid. a 1706 Evelyn Hist. Relig. (1850) I. 402 Nor were they used of old to be read in churches. 1737 Waterland Eucharist 393 Prayer was then used to be offered up for that Purpose. 1788 London Mag. 399 The Tuilleries, where boats were used to be found. |
22. † a. To act, conduct oneself or one's affairs, in a particular or specified manner.
Obs. rare.
| a 1325 Prose Psalter lxxvi. 12 Y shal þenchen in alle þyne werkes, and y shal vse [L. exercebor] in alle þy fundynges. c 1375 Cursor M. 24931 (Fairf.), Bot now men vsis on oþer wise, Þer is mare of hir seruise. 1523 Ld. Berners Froiss. I. xv. 15 Kyng Edward..and y⊇ quene his mother..vsed moche after y⊇ counsell of syr Thomas Wage. 1579 Tomson Calvin's Serm. Tim. 181/1 And therfore we haue to vse of our selues modestly. |
b. Sc. To accustom oneself, become accustomed or habituated, get used,
to something.
| 1836 Carlyle Let. in Atlantic Monthly Sept. (1898) 295/1 ‘You will use, you will use,’ and get hefted to the place, as all creatures do. 1842 Mrs. Carlyle Lett. (1883) I. 158 If I do not use to the noise. 1894 Crockett Raiders 284 So soon does one use to the sight. |
23. a. To go frequently, to resort or repair customarily, to a place or person; to frequent or haunt a place. Freq. with
advs. (as
thither,
where), or with preps. (
esp. in earlier use with
to). Latterly
dial. (
Eng. Dial. Dict. s.v.) and
U.S.| (a) c 1470 Henry Wallace i. 209 Into the toun he wsyt everilk day. Ibid. ii. 290 He wsyt offt to that religious place. 1590 in Cath. Rec. Soc. Publ. V. 181 [They] be good witnesses..howe many severall persons have vsed to the saienge of masses. 1599 Sir R. Wrothe in Ellis Orig. Lett. Ser. ii. III. 181 Sertaine lewde fellowes..doe frequente and use aboute Layton heath. 1602 Breton Mother's Blessing Wks. (Grosart) I. 6/1 Presumptuous fooles, and irreligious Iewes, Emong the Nobler sort should neuer vse. a 1613 Overbury Characters, Ord. Widdow, Shee uses to cunning women to know how many husbands she shall have. 1653 Holcroft Procopius, Pers. Wars ii. 51 Then shall you by our Countrey have the conveniencie of using to Roman Seas. 1663 Extr. St. Papers Friends Ser. ii. (1911) 168 When he is in London he vseth frequently at Mr. Lawries howse. 1834 J. Hall Kentucky II. 40 ‘But you seem acquainted with these woods.’ ‘Yes, I use about here some.’ 1884 ‘M. Twain’ Huckleberry Finn vi, If he didn't quit using around there she would make trouble for him. |
| (b) 1470–85 Malory Arthur xviii. xxii. 765, I am a gentil-woman that vseth here in this forest huntynge. 1592 in J. Morris Troub. Cath. Forefathers Ser. ii. (1875) 54 Cotton did use thither divers times. 1596 Spenser F.Q. vi. Prol. ii, Conduct me well In these strange waies, where neuer foote did vse. a 1700 B. E. Dict. Cant. Crew, Flash-ken, a House where Thieves use. 1848 Bartlett Dict. Amer. 372, I can see where the deer used. 1851 Mayhew Lond. Labour II. 475/2 The master of the hotel or the gents that uses there. |
| transf. 1591 Sylvester Ivry 370 Even as a Galley, in smooth Sea subdues The tallest Ship that in the Steights doth use. 1637 Milton Lycidas 136 Ye valleys low where the milde whispers use, Of shades and wanton winds. |
† b. To inhabit, reside, or dwell in or at a place.
| a 1585 Montgomerie Cherrie & Slae 97 Musis that vsis At fountaine Helicon. 1610 Fletcher Faithf. Sheph. iii. i, I will give thee for thy food, No Fish that useth in the mud. 1628 May Virg. Georg. iii. 93 Snakes that use within the house for shade, Securely lurk. 1707 Sloane Jamaica I. p. xviii, This is known by the places where they [sc. fish] use. |
† c. To associate (or cohabit)
with a person.
Obs.| 1382 Wyclif John iv. 9 Jewis vsen not with Samaritans. 1559 W. Bercher Nobylytye Wymen (Roxb.) 141 The daughters of Lot, which vsed carnallye with their ffather. 1566 Sternhold & H. Ps. xxvi. 4, I do not lust to haunt or vse, with men whose deeds are vayne. |
† 24. a. To make use
of some thing.
Obs.| c 1500 Melusine xx. 110 As long that ye shall vse of feythfulnes. 1542 Udall Erasm. Apoph. 44 For in the same solemnitees men usen of a custom. 1704 N. N. tr. Boccalini's Advts. fr. Parnass. II. 171 He us'd of all the Rhetorick he had, to praise that Vice. |
† b. Similarly with
with.
Obs. rare.
| a 1400–50 Alexander 3594 Olyfauntis.., As ilkane vsyd with in ynde vmquile with to fiȝte. 1502 Ord. Crysten Men (W. de W. 1506) iv. xxi. X vj, He ought iustely to vse with his puyssaunce and not in abusynge. |
25. To take drugs.
slang.| 1953 W. Burroughs Junkie (1964) x. 104 The reason it is practically impossible to stop using and cure yourself is that the sickness lasts five to eight days. Twelve hours of it would be easy, twenty-four possible, but five to eight days is too long. 1960 C. Cooper Scene 15 Why don't you bust a cap with me? It's choice. I used this morning and I'm still nice. 1962 ‘K. Orvis’ Damned & Destroyed xi. 71 Almost twenty-four hours..since I've had a fix... Are you the only one?.. You forget I use, too. |
Add:
VI. 26. Special
Comb. use-by date, the date marked on a food package (or any item with a limited shelf-life) after which the contents may be expected to deteriorate;
cf. best before date s.v. *
best a. A. 11 c,
sell-by date s.v. sell v. B. 15 b.
| 1979 Heimbach & Stokes FDA 1978 Consumer Food Labeling Survey iv. 42 A good example would be open-date information: many people who know that the date tells the freshness of the product,..would not know whether it is a pull (sell-by) date, a quality-assurance (best-if-used-by) date, or an expiration (*use-by) date. 1983 Sunset May 190/2 Unless the labels specify a ‘use by’ date, canned goods will retain their quality for several years. 1989 Which? June 288/3 The ‘use by’ date on a pack of film indicates the useful life of the film under normal storage conditions. |