See Also:

use(2) (iou)



use verb. = used to. ME.
[Old & mod. French user employ (now user de), consume, wear out from Proto-Romance from Latin us- pa. ppl stem of uti.]
I.
verb trans. Celebrate or observe (a rite, custom, etc.); follow as a custom or usage. arch. ME.
verb trans. Observe or comply with (a law, rule, etc.). ME-E17.
Bible (Tyndale): 1 Tim. 1:8 We knowe that the lawe is god, yf a man vse it lawfully.
verb trans.
a. Follow (a particular course of life); carry on (an occupation, profession, etc.); discharge the functions of (an office). ME-E19.
Bible (AV): 1 Tim. 3:10 Then let them vse the office of a Deacon. Sir W. Scott I am determined to turn honest man, and use this life no longer.
b. Spend or pass (a period of time) in a certain way. obsolete exc. as passing into sense 7. LME.
c. Frequent the company of (a person). LME-L16.
verb trans. Take part or engage in (a game, activity, etc.). Now rare. ME.
T. Bridges Use War abroad, at home use Peace. S. Williams He uses no exercise.
verb trans. Pursue (some course of action); do, perform. Now rare. ME.
verb trans. Put into practice or operation, esp. towards or against others. LME.
Milton The like severity no doubt was us'd. Shelley Tell me all, what poisonous Power Ye use against me.
II.
verb trans. Make use of (a thing), esp. for a particular end or purpose; utilize, turn to account. ME.
R. Graves I won Livilla by using my brains. G. F. Newman What d'you use for money when buying up these mansions? R. W. Clark Radioisotopes were..to be used for removing the growths of physical disease.
b. Wear (a garment etc.). arch. LME.
c. Work, till, occupy, (land, ground, etc.). L16-M18.
verb trans. Cause (an implement, instrument, etc.) to work, esp. for a particular purpose; manipulate, operate. ME.
Shakespeare Merchant of Venice Good Launcelot Gobbo, use your legs..run away. Bible (AV): Jeremiah 23:31 I am against the prophets..that vse their tongues. I. Murdoch He showed Dora the little instrument he used to make the sound.
verb trans. Take as food, drink, etc.; consume by eating or drinking; esp. take (alcohol, narcotics, etc.) regularly or habitually. Formerly also spec., receive (the eucharist). ME.
S. Purchas They drinke not wine, nor vse vinegar. Fortune They..don't now use drugs.
verb intrans.
a. Foll. by of, with: make use of or employ something. LME-E18.
b. Esp. of a drug addict: take drugs. slang. M20.
verb trans. Employ or make use of (a person, animal, etc.) in a specified function or capacity; esp. (now arch. & dial.) have sexual intercourse with. Now also, take advantage of, manipulate, (a person). LME.
R. Scot Manie are so bewitched that they cannot use their owne wives. Milton Were not his purpose To use him further yet in some great service.
verb trans. Expend or consume (a commodity etc.) by employment. LME.
H. Glasse A Cook that used six Pounds of Butter to fry twelve Eggs.
III.
verb trans. Speak or write in (a language); say or utter (words, phrases, etc.). ME.
J. Wilkins The Language used in Denmark. Lytton Thou usest plain language, my friend. Anthony Smith A fast talker uses three words a second.
verb trans. Resort to (a place) frequently or habitually; frequent. Now rare. LME.
H. Sloane It uses more the low sandy inland parts than the plovers.
b. verb intrans. Go frequently or customarily to a place or person, frequent a place (now dial. & US). Formerly also, associate or cohabit with a person, live in or at a place. LME.
verb trans.
a. refl. Orig., resort, repair. Later, behave, conduct oneself, esp. in a specified manner. Now arch. & Scot. LME.
E. Herbert He used himself more like a Fellow..than like a Subject.
b. Deal with or behave towards (a person or thing) in a specified way, treat. LME.
L. Sterne 'Tis..using him worse than a German. A. W. Kinglake They won France. They used her hard.
IV.
verb trans. Habituate, accustom, inure. Now chiefly in be used to, be used to doing, (arch.) be used to do. ME.
Evelyn Nor were they used of old to be read in churches. Sir W. Scott He wanted to use her by degrees to live without meat. Leigh Hunt She was used to leave cares Without. Thackeray A person..used to making sacrifices. G. Greene Our guests were..used to eating badly at home.
verb intrans. Be accustomed to do. Now only in pa. used, (in emphatic, neg., & interrog. contexts) did use, (informal) did used. ME.
E. Farjeon Mama, did you use to be a flirt? M. Sinclair The Spectator is not what it used to be in my father's time. E. Waugh He always used to take a leading part.
b. Do a thing customarily; be wont to do. Now literary. LME.
Browning Die at good old age as grand men use.
verb intrans.
a. Behave in a specified manner. rare. ME-L16.
b. Accustom oneself or become accustomed to something. Scot. M19.
Phrases etc.: be able to use colloq. be in need of, be in a position to benefit from, want (chiefly in I could use, they could use, etc.). ill-use: see ILL adjective & adverb. use a sledgehammer to crack a nut: see SLEDGEHAMMER noun. use-by date: marked on the packaging of (esp. perishable) foods to indicate the latest recommended date of use. use the sea, use the seas arch. be a sailor. use up (a) consume (a commodity or stock) completely; exhaust the supply of; (b) colloq. exhaust with fatigue, overwork, etc., overtire, (chiefly as used up ppl adjective); (c) find a use for (something left over).
used attrib. adjective (a) usual, wonted, customary; now only Scot. in
used and wont, usual or customary, according to use and custom; (b) that is or has been made use of; utilized; spec. (of a vehicle etc.) second-hand; (of paper currency) not in mint condition; (c) (now only Scot.) experienced in; expert: LME.
usedly adverb commonly: only in M16.
usedness noun L17.