Etymologically
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usus

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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

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