▪ I. disuse, n.
(dɪsˈjuːs)
[f. dis- 9 + use n.]
1. Discontinuance of use, practice, or exercise; prolonged cessation from an action or practice.
| 1552 Huloet, Disusage or disuse, desuetudo. 1603 Holland Plutarch's Mor. 1255 Fashions..well enough knowen, though they be not practised: mary, strange they be by reason of disuse. 1646 Sir T. Browne Pseud. Ep. iv. vi. 194 Nor is there any who from disuse did ever yet forget it. 1738 Oxford Methodists 9 The general disuse of a duty could not by any means excuse the neglect of it. 1859 Darwin Orig. Spec. v. (1873) 108 Structures which can be best explained by the effects of disuse. 1885 Law Times 23 May 68/2 His fine abilities rusting from disuse. |
† b. The being or becoming unused or unaccustomed (to); unaccustomedness. Obs.
| 1570 Levins Manip. 194/43 Disuse, desuetudinis. 1580 Hollyband Treas. Fr. Tong, Desaccoustumance, disuse. 1726 G. Shelvocke Voy. round World (1757) 419 It appeared to us to proceed more from disuse than disinclination to work. 1733 Swift Apol. 135 Wks. 1755 IV. i. 213 Frighten'd at a scene so rude, Through long disuse of solitude. 1792 F. Burney Diary V. viii. 369, I pleaded..my disuse to the night air at this time of the year. |
c. The condition or state of being no longer in use; desuetude.
| 1699 Bentley Phal. 455 The other acceptation of the word falling into disuse. 1705 W. Bosman Guinea 371 This Custom, which is..grown in disuse for several years past. a 1771 Gray in Corr. w. N. Nicholls (1843) 301 Many of them have gradually dropped into disuse. 1889 I. Taylor Orig. Aryans 126 The pile dwellings, being no longer needed, gradually fell into disuse. |
† 2. The quality of being of no use; uselessness. Obs. rare—1.
| 1627–77 Feltham Resolves i. xxxvi. 60 Grief is like Ink poured into water, that fills the whole Fountain full of blackness and disuse. |
▪ II. disuse, v.
(dɪsˈjuːz)
Also 6 Sc. disose.
[f. dis- 6 + use v.]
† 1. trans. To make (a person) unaccustomed or unused to anything; to cause to lose a habit; to disaccustom. Chiefly in pass.: cf. disused ppl. a. 1. Const. from, of, to, or inf. Obs.
| 1375 Barbour Bruce xix. 183 Quhen thai thus diswsyt ar, Than may ȝhe move on thame ȝour wer. 1513 Douglas æneis vi. xiv. 16 He sall..men steir, Quhilk lang hes bene disosit fra the weir, To armis and triumphe of victory. a 1618 Raleigh Maxims St. in Rem. (1661) 40 They are to be dis-used from the practise of Arms. a 1640 W. Fenner Christ's Alarm ii. (1657) 25 If sinne be yielded unto, it will disuse a man of Gods Ordinances. a 1791 Blacklock On Melissa's Birth-day (R.) With Bion long disus'd to play. |
2. To discontinue the use or practice of (a thing); to cease to use.
| 1487 Act 3 Hen. VII, c. 2 Which lawe by negligence is disused. 1549 Compl. Scot. Prol. 17 Gyf sic vordis suld be disusit..than the phrasis of the antiquite vald be confundit. 1690 Norris Beatitudes (1694) I. 199 They..condemn and disuse many things meerly because we approve and use them. 1727 Swift What passed in Lond. Wks. 1755 III. i. 181 Now I reflected..that I had disused family prayers for above five years. 1868 M. Pattison Academ. Org. v. 193 Other universities..have disused the term ‘Arts’. 1874 Parker Goth. Archit. i. vi. 197 In many later examples these sub-arches are entirely disused. |
† 3. To make a wrong use of; to misuse, abuse. Obs.
| c 1380 Wyclif Serm. Sel. Wks. I. 1 A riche man þat dis⁓uside his richesse in pride and in glotonye. Ibid. III. 355 He..disuside þe ȝiftis of God. c 1430 Lydg. Bochas ii. (1558) Lenuoy 17 All olde abusion Of ceremonies falsly disusyng. c 1440 Promp. Parv. 123/2 Dysvsyn, or mysse vsyn a-ȝenste resone, abutor. |
Hence disˈusing vbl. n.
| 1605 Clergy Lincoln agst. Liturgy 69 This may..appear by their long disuseing, or seldom useing of them. 1611 Cotgr., Desusitation, a disusing, discontinuing. |