usus

Pronunciation

• IPA (Classical): [ˈuː.sʊs]^[1]
• IPA (Ecclesiastical): [ˈuː.s̬us]^[1]

Forms

ūsus m (genitive ūsūs); fourth declension^[1]

Etymology

It is from ūtor “to use” with the suffix of action nouns -tus.^[2][1][3] Plautus has ⟨ussus⟩, Cicero's archaizing laws ⟨oesus⟩, and Varro the genitive ⟨ūsuis⟩.^[2]

Earliest recorded meaning

Köbler's first source is Naevius, whom he dates c. 235–200 BC.^[4] The OLD's earliest citations are from Plautus and Cato.^[2]

Semantic evolution

It meant use, employment of a thing, as Caesar's men deprived of the use of necessities, and in Cato in ūsū esse to be in use.^[2][5] In law it meant the right to use another's property, as in Horace, ūsus frūctus the usufruct, as in Plautus, and continuous possession leading to ownership.^[2] In Cicero it meant practice as opposed to theory, and in Terence practical experience, and ūsū venīre to happen, as in Cato.^[2] From Varro it meant a usage, custom, and in Cicero dealings between persons.^[2] From Plautus it meant usefulness, value, and need, ūsus est “there is need”.^[2] Isidore explains it as what we use, as a staff for leaning.^[6]

In Ecclesiastical Latin it meant use, want, need, enjoyment, practice, skill.^[7] Medieval Latin used it for custom, customary law and a customary duty.^[8] It survives in Italian and Spanish uso and French us.^[1] A Vulgar Latin *ūsāre from the same stem gave Old French user and English use about 1200, and ūsuālis gave English usual.^[3]

Timeline

• c. 235–200 BC – Naevius uses it.^[4]
• c. 250–184 BC – Plautus uses ūsus frūctus.^[2][4]
• 81–43 BC – Cicero uses it of practice.^[2][4]
• c. 1200 – English use is recorded.^[3]

Meanings

Noun

1. Use, employment, in ūsū esse, to be in use.^[2]
2. The means of using; the power of using (a faculty).^[2]
3. (law) The right of use, ūsus frūctus, usufruct; continuous possession.^[2]
4. Practice; experience, ūsū venīre, to happen.^[2]
5. A usage, custom.^[2]
6. Dealings, intercourse.^[2]
7. Usefulness, value; function.^[2]
8. Need, ūsus est, there is need.^[2]
9. (Medieval Latin) Custom; customary law.^[8]

Word family

• ūsūcapiō
• ūsuālis
• ūsuārius
• ūsūfructuārius
• ūsūrecipiō
• ūsūrpō

Related words

• ūtor
• ūsūra
• English use
• English usual

References

1. ^ a b c d e Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r Glare, P. G. W., ed. (2012), Oxford Latin Dictionary, 2nd ed., Oxford: Oxford University Press
3. ^ a b c Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com
4. ^ a b c d Köbler, Gerhard (2010), Lateinisches Abkunfts- und Wirkungswörterbuch für Altertum und Mittelalter, online ed., koeblergerhard.de
5. ^ Gaffiot, Félix (2016), Dictionnaire latin-français, new ed. by Gérard Gréco et al. (Gaffiot 2016), online ed.
6. ^ Isidore of Seville, Etymologiarum sive Originum libri XX, ed. W. M. Lindsay (Oxford, 1911).
7. ^ Stelten, Leo F. (1995), Dictionary of Ecclesiastical Latin, Peabody, Mass.: Hendrickson
8. ^ a b Niermeyer, J. F. (1976), Mediae Latinitatis Lexicon Minus, Leiden: Brill