usual English · revision 4240

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=borrowing|attested=1387|origins=la usus}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: /ˈjuː.ʒu.əl/, /ˈjuː.ʒəl/^(Roach et al. 2011)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[inh|enm|usualle]],^(Barnhart 1988) from Old French usuel “current, valid”, 13th century,^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988) and directly [[bor|la-lat|ūsuālis|t=ordinary, customary; for use]],^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988)^(MWU 2024) from Latin [[m|la|ūsus|t=use, custom]],^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988) from the past participle of ūtī “to use”,^(AHD 2000) with the suffix [[-al]].^(Barnhart 1988)^(Hoad 1986) It is related to [[use]] and [[utility]].^(Cresswell 2021)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ Before 1387, in Trevisa's translation of Higden's Polychronicon, according to Barnhart;^(Barnhart 1988) “generally recognized” in the late 14th century in Etymonline;^(Etymonline) the OED's first sense, “in ordinary use, having general currency”, is from 1396.^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ “Commonly encountered” is from the mid-15th century,^(Etymonline) and “customarily employed, ordinary” from about 1444.^(OED 1989) “Such as commonly happens” is from 1577.^(OED 1989) ''Usually'' is from 1477.^(Barnhart 1988) ''As usual'' is recorded by 1716,^(Etymonline) and ''the usual'', a person's customary drink or order, is from 1589 in Merriam-Webster's dating of the noun.^(MW Collegiate) ''The usual suspects'' comes from a line spoken by Claude Rains in Casablanca (1942): “Round up the usual suspects.”^(Etymonline)^(Cresswell 2021)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * 1387 – usual.^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * 1396 – in ordinary use.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1477 – ''usually''.^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * 1716 – ''as usual''.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1942 – ''the usual suspects''.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Adjective===

+ # Commonly met with, experienced or observed; [[ordinary]].^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)

+ # Regularly or customarily used: ''my usual route''.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)

+ # In keeping with normal practice or procedure.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)

+

+ ===Noun===

+ # ''(informal)'' Something usual, especially a person's customary drink: ''the usual, please''.^(MW Collegiate)^(SOED 2002)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[usually]]

+ * [[usualness]]

+ * [[unusual]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[use]]

+ * [[utility]]

+ * [[usage]]

+

+ ==Usage notes==

+ The American Heritage distinguishes usual, what accords with ordinary practice, from habitual, customary and accustomed.^(AHD)

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}