c. 1200, usen, "employ for a purpose," from Old French user "employ, make use of, practice, frequent," from Vulgar Latin *usare "use," from stem of Latin uti "make use of, profit by, take advantage of, enjoy, apply, consume" (in Old Latin oeti "use, employ, exercise, perform"), a word of uncertain origin. Related: Used; using. It took senses of Old English brucan (see brook (v.)).
For intransitive senses (used to), see used. From c. 1300 as "speak or write a language;" by mid-14c. as "consume" (food, medicine). From late 14c. as "take advantage of" a situation, "seize" an opportunity; "enjoy, have a right to." To use up "consume entirely" is by 1785.
c. 1300, "act of employing (something) fact of being used or employed;" also "individual habit or practice; manner of living, way of using;" from Anglo-French and Old French us, hus "custom, practice, usage." This is from Latin usus "use, custom, practice, employment, skill, habit," from past-participle stem of uti "make use of, profit by, take advantage of" (see use (v.)).
By late 14c. in English as "purpose, function; benefit; consumption; established custom among a set of people." To be of no use "be worthless" is from late 14c.
