Etymology Explorer › English

Where does “using” come from?

Using derives from Middle English usen, from Old French user, from Latin ūsus (past participle of ūtī, meaning to employ or make use of), ultimately from Proto-Indo-European h₃eyt-.

using (English): present participle of use; use; utilization

Definitions

  1. present participle of use; use; utilization

Ancestry of “using”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishuseThe act of using; The act of consuming alcohol or...
2Middle Englishuse—
3Old Frenchustradition or custom
4Latinūsus—
5Latinūtor—
6Proto-Slavic*ǫtorъ—
7Proto-Slavictorъ—
8Proto-Slavictertito rub, to scrape; to polish
9Proto-Indo-Europeanterh₁-to rub, turn; to drill, pierce

Words derived from “using”

  • nonusing
  • multiusing
Every word from Proto-Indo-European terh₁- →