usare Italian · revision 37777

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=inherited|attested=late 13th century, Novellino|origins=la ūtor}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * /uˈza.re/^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Forms==

+ '''usare''' (first-person singular present ùso, first-person singular past historic usài, past participle usàto, auxiliary avére or (in the uncommon impersonal meaning "to be customary") èssere)^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[inh|la-vul|*ūsō|alt=*ūsāre]], recorded in Late and early Medieval Latin, a verb made on [[la|ūsus|t=used; accustomed]], the past participle of [[m|la|ūtor|t=to use]].^(Nocentini 2010)^(GRADIT 2003)^(Devoto–Oli 2026)^(Wiktionary) Devoto and Gabrielli call it an intensive formed on that deponent verb.^(Devoto 1968|461)^(Gabrielli 2020) Nocentini counts it a Romance formation, and DEI notes that it belongs to Italian and the western Romance languages.^(Nocentini 2010)^(DEI|3962) The same verb is [[fr|user]], recorded from the 12th century, [[oc|usar]], [[ca|usar]], [[es|usar]] and [[pt|usar]], and [[sc|usare]] in Sardinian.^(Nocentini 2010)^(REW 1935)^(DEI|3962)

+

+ De Vaan traces the Latin verb to [[itc-pro|*oit-]], still visible in Old Latin spellings of the infinitive and participle, and connects it, following Tichy, with [[grc|οἴσω|tr=oísō|t=I will fetch]], through a sense “to fetch for oneself” that became “to use”.^(de Vaan 2008)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ DELI's first record is in the ''Novellino'', at the end of the 13th century, with the sense “to put to use” a means, a tool, a source of income or a quality of mind.^(DELI 1999)^(Nocentini 2010) DEI also records 13th-century senses now lost: “to frequent, keep company with” (Ricordano Malispini) and “to have carnal relations” (Bono Giamboni).^(DEI|3962)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ The sense “to be accustomed to” is recorded in 1305–1306, in the sermons of Giordano da Pisa, and Boccaccio used the verb in 1348–1353 for words employed in speaking or writing.^(DELI 1999) Tommaseo quotes Boccaccio's question “che orazione usate di dire?” (what prayer are you used to saying?), a construction with ''di'' that the 19th century still knew.^(Tommaseo–Bellini 1861) Old derivatives include ''usanza'' “custom” (13th century, Brunetto Latini) and ''usato'', already in Dante.^(Nocentini 2010)^(DEI|3962)

+

+ Intransitive uses came later in the dictionaries: “to be customary”, impersonal, before 1698 (Francesco Redi), and “to be in fashion” in 1863 (Fanfani).^(DELI 1999) ''Usare la ragione'' “to reason” is in Francesco da Buti, before 1406, and ''usare la testa'' in the same sense entered the Zingarelli dictionary in 1970.^(DELI 1999) Modern dictionaries add the derogatory sense “to exploit a person, treat as a mere tool”.^(GRADIT 2003)^(Treccani 2011)^(Zingarelli 2010)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * Late 13th century – The ''Novellino'' uses ''usare'' “to put to use”.^(DELI 1999)

+ * 13th century – Brunetto Latini uses ''usanza'' “custom”.^(DEI|3962)

+ * 1305–1306 – Giordano da Pisa uses the verb for “to be accustomed to”.^(DELI 1999)

+ * 1348–1353 – Boccaccio uses it for words employed in speech or writing.^(DELI 1999)

+ * Before 1698 – Francesco Redi has the impersonal sense “to be customary”.^(DELI 1999)

+ * 1863 – Fanfani records the sense “to be in fashion”.^(DELI 1999)

+ * 1970 – ''Usare la testa'' “to think” enters the Zingarelli dictionary.^(DELI 1999)

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Verb===

+ # To [[m|en|use]], employ (a tool, an object or a means) for a purpose: ''Per aprire il barattolo ho usato un cacciavite.''^(GRADIT 2003)^(Devoto–Oli 2026)^(Sabatini–Coletti 2026)

+ # To use (words, expressions, a style) in speaking or writing.^(GRADIT 2003)^(Devoto–Oli 2026)^(Zingarelli 2010)

+ # To [[m|en|consume]] a resource: ''usare i risparmi''.^(GRADIT 2003)^(Devoto–Oli 2026)

+ # To take (a means of transport); to [[m|en|wear]], especially habitually.^(GRADIT 2003)^(Devoto–Oli 2026)

+ # To take (medicines, drugs).^(GRADIT 2003)^(Devoto–Oli 2026)

+ # ''(derogatory)'' To [[m|en|exploit]] a person, treat someone as a mere tool.^(GRADIT 2003)^(Sabatini–Coletti 2026)^(Treccani 2011)

+ # To show, exercise (caution, force, a right) in one's behaviour: ''usare prudenza''.^(Treccani 2011)^(Zingarelli 2010)^(Gabrielli 2020)

+ # To do (a courtesy, a favour) to someone.^(Treccani 2011)^(Gabrielli 2020)^(Wiktionary)

+ # To be accustomed to, be in the habit of (with an infinitive).^(Sabatini–Coletti 2026)^(Treccani 2011)^(Wiktionary)

+ # ''(intransitive)'' To be in fashion; impersonal, with the auxiliary ''essere'', to be [[m|en|customary]]: ''Da noi si usa ancora scambiarsi gli auguri a voce.''^(Sabatini–Coletti 2026)^(Treccani 2011)^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[usanza]]

+ * [[usato]]

+ * [[usabile]]

+ * [[disusare]]

+ * [[disuso]]

+ * [[riusare]]

+ * [[usa e getta]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[usitato]]

+ * [[uso]]

+ * [[usuale]]

+ * [[usuario]]

+ * [[usura]]

+ * [[utile]]

+ * [[la|ūtor]]

+ * [[fr|user]]

+

+ ==Usage notes==

+ ''Usa e getta'' “use and throw away” is used as an adjective for disposable objects.^(GRADIT 2003)^(Zingarelli 2010) An old and literary verb ''usare'' “to dare” is a variant of ''osare'', found from the Middle Ages to Svevo.^(GDLI|21, 582)

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}