Where does “usual” come from?
Usual derives from Middle English usual, from Old French usuel, from Latin usualis, formed from Latin uti meaning to use, with the suffix -alis, ultimately from Proto-Indo-European h₃eyt-.
usual (English): Most commonly occurring; typical; The typical...
Definitions
- Most commonly occurring; typical; The typical...
Ancestry of “usual”, step by step
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Middle English | usual | customary, established; usual, normal, regular |
| 2 | Old French | usuel | — |
| 3 | Latin | usualis | that is for use, that is in service: utilitarian;... |
| 4 | Latin | ūsus | use, employment, exercise, advantage |
| 5 | Latin | ūtor | to use, make use of, employ |
| 6 | Proto-Slavic | *ǫtorъ | croze |
| 7 | Proto-Slavic | torъ | paddock, pen |
| 8 | Proto-Slavic | terti | to rub, to scrape; to polish |
| 9 | Proto-Indo-European | terh₁- | to rub, turn; to drill, pierce |