- Use
- Use Use, n. [OE. us use, usage, L. usus, from uti, p. p. usus,
to use. See {Use}, v. t.]
[1913 Webster]
1. The act of employing anything, or of applying it to one's
service; the state of being so employed or applied;
application; employment; conversion to some purpose; as,
the use of a pen in writing; his machines are in general
use.
[1913 Webster]
Books can never teach the use of books. --Bacon. [1913 Webster]
This Davy serves you for good uses. --Shak. [1913 Webster]
When he framed All things to man's delightful use. --Milton. [1913 Webster]
2. Occasion or need to employ; necessity; as, to have no further use for a book. --Shak. [1913 Webster]
3. Yielding of service; advantage derived; capability of being used; usefulness; utility. [1913 Webster]
God made two great lights, great for their use To man. --Milton. [1913 Webster]
'T is use alone that sanctifies expense. --Pope. [1913 Webster]
4. Continued or repeated practice; customary employment; usage; custom; manner; habit. [1913 Webster]
Let later age that noble use envy. --Spenser. [1913 Webster]
How weary, stale, flat and unprofitable, Seem to me all the uses of this world! --Shak. [1913 Webster]
5. Common occurrence; ordinary experience. [R.] [1913 Webster]
O C[ae]sar! these things are beyond all use. --Shak. [1913 Webster]
6. (Eccl.) The special form of ritual adopted for use in any diocese; as, the Sarum, or Canterbury, use; the Hereford use; the York use; the Roman use; etc. [1913 Webster]
From henceforth all the whole realm shall have but one use. --Pref. to Book of Common Prayer. [1913 Webster]
7. The premium paid for the possession and employment of borrowed money; interest; usury. [Obs.] [1913 Webster]
Thou art more obliged to pay duty and tribute, use and principal, to him. --Jer. Taylor. [1913 Webster]
8. [In this sense probably a corruption of OF. oes, fr. L. opus need, business, employment, work. Cf. {Operate}.] (Law) The benefit or profit of lands and tenements. Use imports a trust and confidence reposed in a man for the holding of lands. He to whose use or benefit the trust is intended shall enjoy the profits. An estate is granted and limited to A for the use of B. [1913 Webster]
9. (Forging) A stab of iron welded to the side of a forging, as a shaft, near the end, and afterward drawn down, by hammering, so as to lengthen the forging. [1913 Webster]
{Contingent use}, or {Springing use} (Law), a use to come into operation on a future uncertain event.
{In use}. (a) In employment; in customary practice observance. (b) In heat; -- said especially of mares. --J. H. Walsh.
{Of no use}, useless; of no advantage.
{Of use}, useful; of advantage; profitable.
{Out of use}, not in employment.
{Resulting use} (Law), a use, which, being limited by the deed, expires or can not vest, and results or returns to him who raised it, after such expiration.
{Secondary use}, or {Shifting use}, a use which, though executed, may change from one to another by circumstances. --Blackstone.
{Statute of uses} (Eng. Law), the stat. 27 Henry VIII., cap. 10, which transfers uses into possession, or which unites the use and possession.
{To make use of}, {To put to use}, to employ; to derive service from; to use. [1913 Webster]
The Collaborative International Dictionary of English. 2000.
