Charlton T. Lewis, Charles Short, A Latin Dictionary

I.the use or using of any thing, in the widest sense (cf.: consuetudo, mos).

I. Lit.

A. In gen.

1. The use, employment, exercise of any thing; with gen. obj.: “virtus in usu sui tota posita est: usus autem ejus est maximus civitatis gubernatio,” Cic. Rep. 1, 2, 2: “cetera, ad virtutis usum idonea,” id. Ac. 1, 6, 22.—Absol.: “Quaeque ipsi doceant in usu habere,” Plin. Ep. 1, 10, 10: “nec rhus Latinum nomen habet, cum in usum pluribus modis veniat,” Plin. 24, 11, 54, § 91.—

2. Wear, a wearing out or away (poet.): “ferreus adsiduo consumitur anulus usu,” Ov. A. A. 1, 473: “silices tenuantur ab usu,” id. ib. 3, 91.—

3. Use, enjoyment, fruition: “et usu rerum necessarium et dignitate spoliatum iri,” Caes. B. G. 7, 66: “tantumque nobis in nostrum privatum usum, quantum ipsi superesse posset, remitteret,” Cic. Rep. 1, 8, 13: “cave sis ne tu te usu perduis (i. e. ex usu tui),” lose control of yourself, Plaut. Am. 2, 2, 225 Ussing ad loc.—

4. Use, practice, exercise: “tantum usu cottidiano et exercitatione efficiunt, uti, etc.,” Caes. B. G. 4, 33: “quod adsiduus usus uni rei deditus et ingenium et artem saepe vincit,” Cic. Balb. 20, 45: “cum rerum magnarum tractatio atque usus cum illarum artium studiis et cognitione conjungitur,” id. Rep. 3, 3, 5: “ad eam doctrinam, quam suo quisque studio adsecutus esset, adjungeretur usus frequens,” id. de Or. 1, 4, 15: “docuit nos longa vita ususque rerum maximarum,” id. ib. 2, 50, 204: “usu quidem in re publicā rerum maximarum facile omnis viceris,” id. Rep. 1, 23, 37.—

5. Use, experience, discipline, skill acquired by practice (cf. experientia): Da. O Geta, provinciam Cepisti duram. Ge. Mi usus venit, hoc scio, i. e. I have found it so by experience, Ter. Phorm. 1, 2, 23 (al. usu venit; v. infra, II. C. 2.): “vir tali prudentiā, etiam usu atque exercitatione praeditus,” Cic. Clu. 31, 84: “res posita in usu militari,” id. Imp. Pomp. 10, 28: “usum in re publicā magnum habere,” id. Phil. 10, 2, 6: magnum in re militari usum habere, Caes B G. 1, 39; id. B. C. 2, 34: “non recusare se, quin nullius usus imperator existimaretur,” id. ib. 3, 45: “nullo usu rei militaris percepto,” id. B. G. 6, 40; id. B. C. 3, 84: “usu nauticarum rerum ceteros antecedunt,” id. B. G. 3, 8: “ne usu manuque reliquorum opinionem fallerent,” id. B. C. 3, 86: “et Marius aut belli usum aut studia volgi amissurus,” Sall. J. 84, 3; cf. id. ib. 89, 6: “dantur duo usu sapientiāque praestantes,” Nep. Timoth. 3, 2: “seris venit usus ab annis,” Ov. M. 6, 29: “tum foeda clades, Romanisque usu incognita,” Flor. 2, 2, 23. —Personified: “adiciam quod me docuit usus, magister egregius,” experience, Plin. Ep. 1, 20, 12: “usum et esse et haberi optimum dicendi magistrum,” id. ib. 6, 29, 4.—

6. Use, habit, usage, custom, practice: “usum loquendi populo concessi: scientiam mihi reservavi,” Cic. Or. 48, 160: “dicendi omnis ratio in medio posita communi quodam in usu,” id. de Or. 1, 3, 12: “neque quem usum belli haberent, aut quibus institutis uterentur,” Caes. B. G. 4, 20: “(vitulos) ad studium atque usum formabis agrestem,” Verg. G. 3, 163: “est omnino Capitoni in usu claros viros colere,” it is his custom, Plin. Ep. 1, 17, 3: “populum auctoritate suā ad usum frugalitatis revocavit,” Just. 20, 4, 5: “ab his Galli usum vitae cultioris didicerunt,” id. 43, 4, 1: “at horum recitatio usu jam recepta est,” Plin. Ep. 7, 17, 3: “cadent vocabula, si volet usus,” Hor. A. P. 71.—

B. In partic.

1. In jurid. lang.

a. Usus et fructus, usus fructusque, and more frequently in one word, ūsusfructus , the use and enjoyment of property belonging to another, usufruct: “usus enim ejus fundi et fructus testamento viri fuerat Caesenniae,” Cic. Caecin. 7, 19: “sibi horum usus fructusque contingat,” Sen. Ep. 73, 9: “rem nobis eripit casus, usum fructumque apud nos relinquit,” id. ib. 98, 11: “usumfructum omnium bonorum suorum Caesenniae legat, ut frueretur una cum filio,” Cic. Caecin. 4, 11; cf.: “ususfructus est jus alienis rebus utendi fruendi, salvā rerum substantiā,” Dig. 7, 1, 1; v. the entire title, usufructu: dominus proprietatis alii usumfructum in jure cedere potest, Gai inst. 2, 30 sqq.; 2, 86; Ulp. Fragm. 15, 3.—

b. A use that creates ownership, acquisition by prescription, usucaption.

(α). In the connection usus et auctoritas, or without the copula, usus auctoritas; v. auctoritas; and cf. Rein, Röm. Privatr. p. 144 sq.—

(β). In the phrase usu capere, to acquire by prescription (often as one word; v. 1. usucapio); hence, com.: Mer. Quojus nunc es? Sos. Tuos: “nam pugnis usu fecisti tuom,” Plaut. Am. 1, 1, 218.—

2. Intercourse, familiarity, association, intimacy, society (cf.: “consuetudo, conversatio): domesticus usus et consuetudo,” Cic. Rosc. Am. 6, 15: “quocum mihi est magnus usus,” id. Fam. 7, 32, 1; 9, 25, 2: “conjunctus magno usu familiaritatis,” id. ib. 13, 52: “in tanto usu nostro tantāque amicitiā,” id. Planc. 2, 5: “inter nosmet ipsos vetus usus intercedit,” id. Fam. 13, 23, 1: ut insinuaret se in quam maxime familiarem usum, Liv. 40, 21, 11: “recens praestat nec longo cognitus usu,” Ov. Tr. 3, 5, 9: “natio nullo commercio colens mutuos usus,” Curt. 7, 3, 5: “neminem in usu habes nisi tibi dilectum,” Plin. Pan. 88.—Hence,

b. In mal. part., Tib. 1, 9, 55; Ov. R. Am. 357.—

3. Use, practice, reality (opp. species): “ut (liberi) in usum boni sint et in speciem populo,” Plaut. Most. 1, 2, 42: “illam alteram (partem Numidiae) specie quam usu potiorem Adherbal possedit,” Sall. J. 16, 5: “ut non in usum sic ad speciem imperii,” Flor. 3, 13, 4.

II. Transf.

A. Use, usefulness, value, utility, benefit, profit, advantage: “levis fructus, exiguus usus,” Cic. Rep. 1, 17, 26: “(arborum) consectio magnos usus affert ad navigia facienda,” id. N. D. 2, 60, 152: “propter lini inopiam atque ejus usus inscientiam,” Caes. B. G. 3, 13: “naves factae subito ex umidā materiā non eundem usum celeritatis habebant,” capacity, fitness, id. B. C. 1, 58: “natis in usum laetitiae scyphis Pugnare,” service, Hor. C. 1, 27, 1: “aurum cogere humanos in usus,” id. ib. 3, 3, 51: “pater, si das hujus mihi nominis usum,” Ov. M. 2, 36: “nescis, quo valeat numus? quem praebeat usum?” Hor. S. 1, 1, 73: “quidve ad amicitias, usus rectumne trahat nos,” id. ib. 2, 6, 75: “neque quisquam omnium libidini simul et usui paruit,” Sall. C. 51, 2: “plures quam quot satis in usum erant ignes,” Liv. 36, 10, 12: “servos quos domum quis ducet suo usu,” Dig. 50, 16, 203: “cicuta quoque venenum est ... ad multa tamen usus non omittendi,” Plin. 25, 13, 95, § 151.—In partic., usui or ex usu esse, to be of use, service, or benefit, to be useful, serviceable, advantageous, or profitable: “esse usui civitati, ea, quae sunt usui ad armandas naves,” Caes. B. G. 5, 1; id. B. C. 1, 19; Liv. 3, 33, 5; cf.: “(Satrius) fuit et mihi et Quinto fratri magno usui in nostris petitionibus,” Cic. Att. 1, 1, 3: “magno usui rei publicae esse,” id. Phil. 10, 11, 26; Caes. B. G. 3, 14: “bono usui esse,” Plaut. Curc. 4, 2, 15: “peritos legum ad condenda nova jura usui fore credebant,” Liv. 3, 33, 5: “declararent, utrum proelium ex usu esset necne,” Caes. B. G. 1, 50; so, “ex usu esse,” Cic. Tusc. 4, 7, 14; Plin. 25, 13, 110, § 175: “ad omnia haec magis opportunus nec magis ex usu tuo Nemo'st,” Ter. Eun. 5, 9 (8), 47. —

B. Use, occasion, need, want, necessity: “non te instruere domum tuam voluerunt in provinciā, sed illum usum provinciae supplere,” Cic. Verr. 2, 4, 5, § 9: “quae belli usus poscunt, suppeditare,” Liv. 26, 43, 7: “illuc euntium, quā quemque suorum usuum causae ferrent,” id. 6, 25, 9.—

2. Usus est, or usus venit, there is need, it is necessary, becomes requisite.

a. Usus est (most freq. ante-class., esp. after the analogy of opus est with the abl.).

(α). Absol.: “egomet mihi fero, quod usu'st,” Plaut. Merc. 5, 2, 13: “ubicumque usus siet,” id. Bacch. 4, 4, 9; and, with ellipsis of subst. verb: “dico ut usus fieri,” id. As. 2, 2, 109: “si quando usus esset,” Cic. Off. 1, 26, 92: Me. Mihi sic est usus: tibi ut opus facto'st, face. Ch. An cuiquam est usus homini, se ut cruciet? Me. Mihi, Ter. Heaut. 1, 1, 28 sq.; cf.: “ut equites Pompeianorum impetum, cum adesset usus, sustinere non possent,” Caes. B. C. 3, 84, 4.—

(β). With abl.: “viginti jam usu'st filio argenti minis,” Plaut. As. 1, 1, 76; cf. id. Bacch. 4, 4, 55; 4, 9, 47: “mulier quae se suamque aetatem spernit, speculo ei usus est,” id. Most. 1, 3, 93: “curatore usus est,” Cic. Leg. 3, 4, 10: “ad eam rem usus est tuā mihi operā,” Plaut. Pers. 2, 5, 27: “tacere nequeo misera, quod tacito usus est,” id. Cist. 1, 2, 10: “argento invento,” id. Ps. 1, 1, 48: “facto,” id. Am. 1, 3, 7; id. Rud. 2, 3, 67; id. Stich. 1, 1, 56 al.: “dicto,” id. Trin. 2, 4, 102: “navis, quibus usus non est, omnis praecidisse,” Cic. Att. 9, 6, 3: “quibus (navibus) consuli usus non esset,” Liv. 30, 41, 8: “nunc viribus usus, Nunc manibus rapidis, omni nunc arte magistrā,” Verg. A. 8, 441: “ad eam rem usu'st homine astuto, docto, scito et callido,” Plaut. Ps. 1, 3, 151.—Pleonast.: “non usus facto'st mihi nunc hunc intro sequi,” Ter. Hec. 3, 1, 47.—

(γ). With ut: “nunc ad me ut veniat usu'st Acroteleutium,” Plaut. Mil. 4, 3, 39; cf. Ter. Heaut. 1, 1, 28 supra.—

(δ). With gen.: “alii offerunt se, si quo usus operae sit,” Liv. 26, 9, 9.—

b. Usus venit (not in Cic.): “si quis usus venerit, Meminisse ego hanc rem vos volo,” Plaut. Cist. 1, 2, 28: quom ad praetorem usus veniet, id. Poen. 3, 4, 17; id. Bacch. 2, 3, 129: “si usus vene rit,” id. Merc. 3, 1, 20: “non usus veniet, spero,” Ter. Heaut. 3, 2, 42: “ut, si usus veniat, suum quisque locum teneat,” if occasion should arise, Caes. B. G. 7, 80.—

(β). With abl.: “ubi usus veniat contra consertā manu,” Plaut. Mil. 1, 1, 3.—

C. A fit occasion or opportunity to be used.

1. Usus est or adest, an occasion or opportunity offers: “de ceteris studiis alio loco dicemus, si usus fuerit,” Cic. Tusc. 4, 3, 5.—

2. Esp.: usu venit, it happens, occurs, befalls, chances: “nam quid homini potest turpius, quid viro miserius aut acerbius usu venire?” Cic. Quint. 15, 49; Cic. Verr. 2, 5, 39, § 101: “si id culpa senectutis accideret, eadem mihi usu venirent,” id. Sen. 3, 7: “idem solet in demonstratione usu venire,” id. Inv. 1, 10, 14; 1, 54, 104: “quod item in poëmatis, in picturis usu venit,” id. Off. 3, 3, 15: “hoc illud eis usu venire solet, ut, etc.,” id. Ac. 2, 11, 35: “cum praesertim mihi usu venturum non arbitrarer, ut, etc.,” id. Fam. 3, 8, 6: et, id quod usu venerat, Eumolpidas demigravit, actually occurred (however strange), Nep. Alcib. 4, 5: “id quod numquam antea usu venerat,” id. ib. 6, 3: “praemeditatus, quid sibi esset usu venturum,” Auct. Her. 2, 5, 8: “Caesar biduum in iis locis moratus, quod haec de Vercingetorige usu ventura opinione perceperat,” Caes. B. G. 7, 9: “usu venire ut abhorreant, etc.,” Cic. Fin. 1, 3, 8.—Separated or in a reversed order: “non venit idem usu mihi quod tu tibi scribis,” Cic. Att. 7, 26, 1: “quod cuipiam Thraco venisse usu fabula est,” Gell. 19, 12, 6: “quid, quod usu memoria patrum venit, ut, etc.,” Cic. de Or. 1, 40, 183.