used
AdjectiveOpen English WordNet
Adjective (3)
- employed in accomplishing something; I.C.Eaker“the principle of surprise is the most used and misused of all the principles of war — H.H.Arnold &”Opposite misusedSimilar in use, utilized
- (of persons) taken advantage of“after going out of his way to help his friend get the job he felt not appreciated but used”Synonyms: exploitedill-usedput-uponvictimizedvictimisedOpposite usedSimilar misused
- previously used or owned by another“bought a secondhand (or used) car”Synonyms: secondhandOpposite newSimilar old
What does it mean? Question 1 of today’s quiz
Translations
Adjective second-hand, previously owned
- French
- d'occasion
- German
- gebraucht
- Portuguese
- usado
- Russian
- поде́ржанный podéržannyj
- Arabic
- مُسْتَعْمَل mustaʕmal
- Chinese
- 二手 èrshǒu
- Japanese
- 中古 chūko
- Polish
- używany
- Swedish
- begagnad
- Greek
- μεταχειρισμένος metacheirisménos
Adjective that is or has or have been used
- Spanish
- usado
- Portuguese
- usado
- Russian
- испо́льзуемый ispólʹzujemyj
- Arabic
- مستعمل mustaʕmal
- Polish
- zużyty
- Swedish
- använd
- Greek
- χρησιμοποιημένος chrisimopoiiménos
- Hungarian
- használt
- Portuguese (PT)
- usado
- Catalan
- usat
The main translation for each meaning, from the langtolang.com multilingual dictionary. Each word links to its full entry there.
Webster's Dictionary (1913)
“used” is listed under Use.
Origin: 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.
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.
Launcelot Gobbo, use your legs.— William Shakespeare
Some other means I have which may be used.— John Milton
2. To behave toward; to act with regard to; to treat; as, to use a beast cruelly. “I will use him well.” William Shakespeare
How wouldst thou use me now?— John Milton
Cato has used me ill.— Joseph Addison
3. To practice customarily; to make a practice of; as, to use diligence in business.
Use hospitality one to another.— 1 Pet. iv. 9.
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.
I am so used in the fire to blow.— Geoffrey Chaucer
Thou with thy compeers, Used to the yoke, draw'st his triumphant wheels.— John Milton
To use one's self, to behave. obsolete “Pray, forgive me, if I have used myself unmannerly.” William Shakespeare — 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. colloquial
Synonyms: Employ. — 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.
I would, my son, that thou wouldst use the power Which thy discretion gives thee, to control And manage all.— William Cowper
To study nature will thy time employ: Knowledge and innocence are perfect joy.— John Dryden
Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913), from GCIDE 0.54