from
The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48
Use \Use\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Used}; p. pr. & vb. n. {Using}.]
[OE. usen, F. user to use, use up, wear out, LL. usare to
use, from L. uti, p. p. usus, to use, OL. oeti, oesus; of
uncertain origin. Cf. {Utility}.]
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1. To make use of; to convert to one's service; to avail
one's self of; to employ; to put a purpose; as, to use a
plow; to use a chair; to use time; to use flour for food;
to use water for irrigation.
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Launcelot Gobbo, use your legs. --Shak.
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Some other means I have which may be used. --Milton.
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2. To behave toward; to act with regard to; to treat; as, to
use a beast cruelly. "I will use him well." --Shak.
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How wouldst thou use me now? --Milton.
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Cato has used me ill. --Addison.
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3. To practice customarily; to make a practice of; as, to use
diligence in business.
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Use hospitality one to another. --1 Pet. iv.
9.
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4. To accustom; to habituate; to render familiar by practice;
to inure; -- employed chiefly in the passive participle;
as, men used to cold and hunger; soldiers used to
hardships and danger.
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I am so used in the fire to blow. --Chaucer.
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Thou with thy compeers,
Used to the yoke, draw'st his triumphant wheels.
--Milton.
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{To use one's self}, to behave. [Obs.] "Pray, forgive me, if
I have used myself unmannerly." --Shak.
{To use up}.
(a) To consume or exhaust by using; to leave nothing of;
as, to use up the supplies.
(b) To exhaust; to tire out; to leave no capacity of force
or use in; to overthrow; as, he was used up by
fatigue. [Colloq.]
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Syn: Employ.
Usage: {Use}, {Employ}. We use a thing, or make use of it,
when we derive from it some enjoyment or service. We
employ it when we turn that service into a particular
channel. We use words to express our general meaning;
we employ certain technical terms in reference to a
given subject. To make use of, implies passivity in
the thing; as, to make use of a pen; and hence there
is often a material difference between the two words
when applied to persons. To speak of "making use of
another" generally implies a degrading idea, as if we
had used him as a tool; while employ has no such
sense. A confidential friend is employed to negotiate;
an inferior agent is made use of on an intrigue.
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I would, my son, that thou wouldst use the power
Which thy discretion gives thee, to control
And manage all. --Cowper.
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To study nature will thy time employ:
Knowledge and innocence are perfect joy.
--Dryden.
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