usato Italian · revision 38056

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

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * /uˈza.to/^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Forms==

+ '''usato''' (feminine usata, masculine plural usati, feminine plural usate)^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is the past participle of [[usare]] “to use”, used as an adjective and a noun.^(DELI 1999)^(Devoto–Oli 2026)^(Sabatini–Coletti 2026) The verb comes from [[la-lat|ūsō|alt=ūsāre]], recorded in the 8th century in the Formulae of Sens and formed on [[la|ūsus|t=use]], the past participle of [[m|la|ūtor|t=to use]], used early as a noun.^(DELI 1999)^(Nocentini 2010) Nocentini and Meyer-Lübke give the Latin verb as Vulgar Latin; its cognates are [[fr|user]], [[oc|usar]], [[ca|usar]], [[es|usar]] and [[pt|usar]].^(Nocentini 2010)^(REW 1935)

+

+ DELI calls the Latin verb an Italic word without sure connections.^(DELI 1999) De Vaan reconstructs [[itc-pro|*oit-e/o-|t=to use]] and tentatively links it to [[ine-pro|*h₃eit-|t=to take along]].^(de Vaan 2008)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ DELI's first records are in the ''Novellino'' of the late 13th century, in the literary senses “accustomed” and “usual, customary”.^(DELI 1999)^(Devoto–Oli 2026) Chiaro Davanzati, in the 13th century, has it for fire that burns whoever touches it, in the sense “handled”.^(GDLI|21, 582)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ Dante, before 1321, has ''usato'' for what is no longer new and, as a noun, for the usual way.^(DELI 1999) Petrarch's “Deposta avea l'usata leggiadria” (she had laid aside her usual grace) and Boccaccio's “il polso più forte cominciò a battergli che l'usato” (his pulse began to beat faster than usual) show the senses “customary” and “the usual”.^(Tommaseo–Bellini 1861) Leopardi wrote “torna il lavoro usato” (the daily work returns) in ''Il sabato del villaggio''.^(GRADIT 2003)^(Sabatini–Coletti 2026)

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+ The sense “not new, second-hand” became the main one, and the noun for second-hand goods, as in ''il mercato dell'usato'', is recorded in 1961.^(DELI 1999)^(Devoto–Oli 2026) Recent dictionaries also give ''usato'' for a person who feels exploited: ''mi sono sentito usato''.^(Devoto–Oli 2026)^(Zingarelli 2010)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * Late 13th century – The ''Novellino'' uses ''usato'' for “accustomed” and “customary”.^(DELI 1999)

+ * Before 1321 – Dante uses it for what is no longer new, and as a noun for the usual way.^(DELI 1999)

+ * 1961 – The noun for second-hand goods is recorded.^(DELI 1999)

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Adjective===

+ # [[m|en|used]], no longer new; [[m|en|second-hand]]: ''Ho comprato una bicicletta usata.''^(GRADIT 2003)^(Devoto–Oli 2026)^(Sabatini–Coletti 2026)^(Wiktionary)

+ # In use, current: ''una parola poco usata''.^(Devoto–Oli 2026)^(Zingarelli 2010)^(Gabrielli 2020)

+ # ''(of a person)'' Exploited, made use of.^(Devoto–Oli 2026)^(Zingarelli 2010)

+ # ''(of a stamp)'' Cancelled.^(GRADIT 2003)^(Zingarelli 2010)

+ # ''(literary)'' [[m|en|accustomed]], used (to): ''un uomo usato alla fatica''.^(GRADIT 2003)^(Sabatini–Coletti 2026)^(Treccani 2011)

+ # ''(literary)'' Usual, [[m|en|customary]].^(GRADIT 2003)^(Sabatini–Coletti 2026)^(Treccani 2011)

+ # ''(literary)'' Of a road: frequented, well trodden.^(GRADIT 2003)^(Zingarelli 2010)

+

+ ===Noun===

+ # The usual, what is customary: ''secondo l'usato'', ''fuori dell'usato''.^(GRADIT 2003)^(Sabatini–Coletti 2026)^(Treccani 2011)

+ # Second-hand goods, especially cars and clothes: ''il mercato dell'usato''.^(GRADIT 2003)^(Sabatini–Coletti 2026)^(Treccani 2011)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[usatamente]]

+ * [[inusato]]

+ * [[semiusato]]

+ * [[strausato]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[usare]]

+ * [[uso]]

+ * [[usanza]]

+ * [[la|ūsus]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}