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Origin and history of used

used(adj.)

"second-hand," 1590s, past-participle adjective from use (v.). Sometimes also in Middle English "populated" (of a city), "travelled" (of a path or way), "experienced" (of persons). The construction in to be used to "be accustomed to, be familiar with or versed in" is by late 14c.

The verbal phrase used to "formerly did or was" (as in the past used to be the present) represents a construction attested from c. 1300 and common from c. 1400. It is from the otherwise archaic intransitive sense in use (v.), "accustom, make accustomed" (someone, to something). The pronunciation is affected by the t- of to. Used-to-be (n.) "one who has outlived his fame" is from 1853. Compare older has-been.

also from 1590s

Entries linking to used

has-been(n.)

"one who has outlived his fame," c. 1600 (as hes-beene), from the verbal phrase; see has + been.

use(v.)

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.

pre-owned(adj.)

"previously owned by another," 1961, of motor vehicles, American English, from pre- + owned. A euphemism for used.

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