usualadj.
/ˈjuːʒʊəl/, U.S. /ˈjuʒ(əw)əl/ 1. That is in ordinary use or observance; having general currency, validity, or force; commonly observed or practised; current, prevalent.
ΘΚΠ
the world > relative properties > kind or sort > generality > [adjective] > general or prevalent
commona1325
generala1393
usual1396
popular?a1425
riveda1513
vulgarc1550
current1563
afloat1571
widespread1582
penny-rife1606
catholic1607
spacious1610
epidemical1614
epidemial1616
epidemic1617
prevailent1623
regnant1623
fashionablea1627
wide-spreading1655
endemical1658
prevalent1658
endemiala1682
obtaining1682
prevailing1682
endemious1684
sterling1696
running1697
(as) common as dirt (also muck)1737
prevailant1794
exoteric1814
endemic1852
widish1864
prolate1882
going1909
1396 in Scottish Antiq. XIV. 218 xix. marcis of vsuale moneth.
1396–7 in Eng. Hist. Rev. (1907) XXII. 296 Oure usuel presthod þe qwich began in Rome.
c1450 Godstow Reg. 553 Robert yaf to him xij. shillings of vsuall money.
1495 Act 11 Hen. VII c. 43 Preamble Noe gretter fees..but such [as] at this tyme be usuell.
1523 J. Fitzherbert Bk. Surueyeng xx. f. 36v F. G...payeth vnto the lordes at the termes their vsuels, sixtene shillynges.
1575 in J. Stuart Extracts Council Reg. Aberdeen (1848) II. 24 Fortie markis wsuall money of Scotland.
1583 Sir T. Smith's De Republica Anglorum ii. xi. 54 In this court [of Chancery] the vsuall and proper forme of pleading of England is not vsed.
1620 in J. Stuart Extracts Council Reg. Aberdeen (1848) II. 368 Tua vsuall termis in the yeir, Witsonday and Martimes.
1687 A. Lovell tr. J. de Thévenot Trav. into Levant i. 278 He never goes up thither but at the usual hours, unless it be [etc.].
1747 G. Berkeley Let. in Wks. (1871) IV. 315 Pray give him the usual fee for the best lawyer.
1848 J. J. S. Wharton Law Lexicon 683/1 Usual terms, a phrase in the common law practice, which means pleading issuably, rejoining gratis, and taking short notice of trial.
1855 Poultry Chron. 2 580/2 At half the usual rates of charge.
1897 Daily News 10 Apr. 7/2 Stay of execution for a fortnight upon ‘the usual terms’.
a. Of a year: Solar. Obsolete. rare.
ΘΚΠ
the world > time > reckoning of time > [adjective] > solar or determined by the course of the sun
usuala1387
solar1594
solary1614
a1387 J. Trevisa tr. R. Higden Polychron. (St. John's Cambr.) (1865) I. 37 For þe Iewes in tretys and couenauntes haueþ a ȝere vsual, and bygineþ in Ianuarie.
1398 J. Trevisa Barth. De P.R. ix. iii. (Tollem. MS.) Some ȝere is clepid usuale, as is þe ȝere of þe sonne.
ΘΚΠ
the world > time > period > a month or calendar month > [adjective] > calendar
usual1594
1594 T. Blundeville Exercises iii. i. xlv. f. 170v The Vsuall moneth is that number of dayes which are set downe in our common Kalenders.
3. † b. Habitually done or made. Obsolete. rare.
a.
(a) Ordinarily used; constantly or customarily employed; in common use; ordinary, customary.
ΘΚΠ
the world > action or operation > behaviour > customary or habitual mode of behaviour > [adjective] > usual or customary
wonesomec1200
wonec1275
customable1381
customeda1382
useda1382
wonta1382
wonted1408
accustomed1429
vulgarc1430
usualc1444
famosec1449
customalc1450
accustomablec1475
accustomatea1513
frequent1531
accustomary1541
customary1574
frequented1586
consuetudinary1590
ordinary1605
consuetudinal1656
habitual1689
solent1694
regulation1803
usitate1885
c1444 R. Pecock Donet 34 He must take þe eukarist, not as oþire comoun or vsual meete and drynk.
a1479 W. Caxton Epil. Boeth. 92 b Maister Geffry Chaucer hath translated this sayd werke oute of latyn in to oure vsual and moder tonge.
1532 T. More Confut. Tyndale in Wks. 621/1 He turned the vsuall englyshe woordes of churche, priest, and penaunce, to congregacyon, senior, and repentaunce.
1551 J. Bale Actes Eng. Votaryes: 2nd Pt. f. xl A Consuetudynary or vsuall boke of the churche.
1579 W. Fulke Refut. Rastels Confut. in D. Heskins Ouerthrowne 781 Thou perhaps wilt say, my bread is common and vsual bread.
1610 P. Holland tr. W. Camden Brit. i. 673 From whence there is an usuall passage over into Ireland.
1641 J. Jackson True Evangelical Temper i. 37 Earth-quakes, which (according to the usuall scandall)..were ascribed as a punishment to the Christians.
1671 J. Milton Paradise Regain'd iv. 313 They..Rather accuse him [sc. God] under usual names, Fortune and Fate. View more context for this quotation
1729 T. Innes Crit. Ess. Anc. Inhabitants Scotl. II. 421 He reforms the bard Forchern's story of it (according to the usual custom of posterior bards).
1776 Trial Maha Rajah Nundocomar for Forgery 24/2 What was Selabut's usual method of attesting papers as a witness?
1797 Monthly Mag. 3 549 The sheriff shall make..proclamations..at or near to the most usual door of the church, or chapel.
1836 W. Irving Astoria II. 31 He began by the usual expressions of friendship.
1860 J. Tyndall Glaciers of Alps i. ix. 61 We reached the place by the usual route.
1883 Manch. Examiner 30 Oct. 8/4 Beer in the usual stately German flagons with pewter covers.
(b) Frequently in usual channels [channel n.1 12a] ; usual office(s): see office n. 7b.
ΚΠ
1905 Hansard Commons 16 May 500 In reply to the Question of the hon. Member for Waterford, I have to ask him to communicate with my right hon. friend near me through the usual channels.
1946 Erskine May's Law of Parl. (ed. 14) xii. 245 The Government Chief Whip..together with the Chief Whips of the other parties, constitutes what is known as the ‘usual channels’, through which communications pass as to business arrangements and other matters which concern the convenience of Members as a whole.
1975 J. P. Morgan House of Lords & Labour Govt. viii. 213 The usual channels had collapsed and, in the absence of the customary arrangements, the Government could only hope that they might limit discussion by imposing a guillotine.
ΚΠ
1576 A. Fleming Panoplie Epist. sig. Aijv Often reading, and vsual marking the epistles of Tullie.
1576 A. Fleming tr. Cicero in Panoplie Epist. 2 Sundry Gentlemen, that haue usual resort to my house.
1577 W. Harrison Descr. Eng. (1877) ii. iii. i. 81 One thing onlie I mislike in them, and that is their vsuall going into Italie.
c. Of persons: Commonly employed or serving in a particular capacity.
ΘΚΠ
the world > action or operation > behaviour > customary or habitual mode of behaviour > [adjective] > usual or customary > in respect of people in employment, etc.
ordinarc1400
usual1600
1600 W. Shakespeare Midsummer Night's Dream v. i. 35 Where is our vsuall manager Of mirth? View more context for this quotation
1926 N.E.D. at Usual Mod. He sent the money by his usual messenger. Our usual postman did not come to-day.
4.
a. That ordinarily happens, occurs, or is to be found; such as is commonly met with or observed in ordinary practice or experience; common, wonted.
ΘΚΠ
the world > action or operation > behaviour > customary or habitual mode of behaviour > [adjective] > usual or ordinary > ordinary or of usual occurrence
naturala1425
usual?1577
ordinary1594
vulgar1607
bog-standard1962
?1577 Misogonus in R. W. Bond Early Plays from Ital. (1911) 241 Gods providence in shewinge mercye to his servauntes is alwayes vsiall.
1579 L. Tomson tr. J. Calvin Serm. Epist. S. Paule to Timothie & Titus 248 It was a verie vsuall thing in the East countrie, for a man to haue two or three wiues.
1638 F. Junius Painting of Ancients 8 So is it likewise an usuall thing in..our life, that we..study alwayes to [etc.].
1651 T. Hobbes Leviathan ii. xxii. 122 The usuall meeting of men at Church, or at a publique Shew, in usuall numbers.
1759 R. Brown Compl. Farmer 91 The usual signs that precede their swarming.
1785 W. Cowper Task ii. 61 And th' old..earth has had her shaking fits More frequent, and forgone her usual rest.
1831 G. P. R. James Philip Augustus III. v A table groaning under a repast not very usual on the boards of a prison.
1855 J. Phillips Man. Geol. 204 The usual hardening of sandstone and shale, carbonization of coal, &c., occur.
b. Customary on the part of a person or persons to do something.
ΘΚΠ
the world > action or operation > behaviour > customary or habitual mode of behaviour > [adjective] > usual or customary > to or with a person > customary for a person to do something
usual1605
1605 R. Verstegan Restit. Decayed Intelligence ix. 310 It hath..grown somwhat vsuall in England, to giue vnto children..the surnames of their Godfathers.
1630 tr. G. Botero Relations Famous Kingdomes World (rev. ed.) 183 It is usuall with all the Gauls..to constraine Travellers (though unwilling) to stay.
1716 J. Addison Freeholder No. 10. ⁋5 It was usual for him to shew the Delicacy of his Taste by [etc.].
1719 G. London & H. Wise J. de la Quintinie's Compl. Gard'ner (ed. 7) 312 It is very usual to meet with those.
a1825 Encycl. Metrop. (1845) XVII. 36/1 In most Pigeon-houses it is usual to have a Salt~cat.
1839 H. Hallam Introd. Lit. Europe IV. vii. 506 It is not usual for..[a] woman to turn it into drollery.
c. Common or habitual to a person or thing.
ΘΚΠ
the world > action or operation > behaviour > customary or habitual mode of behaviour > [adjective] > usual or customary > to or with a person
rifea1450
usual1663
1663 Marquis of Worcester Cent. Names & Scantlings Inventions §18 Several shapes and effects usual to Fountains of pleasure.
1693 W. Congreve Old Batchelour i. i. 1 Why truth on't is, these early Sallies are not usual to me.
d. as (or than) usual, as (or than) is or was customary or habitual. (Cf. usually adv. 1b) as per usual: see per prep. 3g.
ΘΚΠ
the world > action or operation > behaviour > customary or habitual mode of behaviour > in habitual or customary use [phrase] > as a habit or custom > as is usual or customary
as use is1423
as (or than) usual1716
the world > action or operation > behaviour > customary or habitual mode of behaviour > in habitual or customary use [phrase] > usually or ordinarily > as is usually the case
as (or than) usual1716
(as) per usual1869
1617 F. Moryson Itinerary i. 114 Liuing things cast into that caue, and held there for longer time then is vsuall.]
1716 J. Addison Free-holder No. 22. ⁋2 Our Conversation opened, as usual, upon the Weather.
1725 R. Bradley Chomel's Dictionaire Œconomique at Pulse When the Strokes are much smaller than usual.
1754 D. Hume Hist. Eng. (1812) I. viii. 409 This war was, as usual, no less feeble in its operations, than..frivolous in its cause and object.
1795 Gentleman's Mag. 65 539/2 The blights were this year..more destructive than usual.
1854 Poultry Chron. 2 348/2 The poultry department was, as usual, the principal attraction.
1864 C. Dickens Our Mutual Friend (1865) I. i. xiv. 130 The huddled buildings looked lower than usual.
1876 A. D. Whitney Sights & Insights II. ix. 405 They had been two days together, as usual; the usualness is a great power.
1924 Amer. Mercury Apr. 505/2 He is, as usual, on the wrong track, and pursuing a chimera.
ΘΚΠ
society > law > legal right > right of possession or ownership > [noun] > right of temporary possession
usufruit1478
usual fruit1558
usufructa1646
1558 J. Knox First Blast against Monstruous Regiment Women f. 48v God wold not suffer that the commoditie and vsuall frute..shulde passe to an other [tribe].
a. Of persons: Customary, regular. Obsolete.
ΘΚΠ
the world > action or operation > behaviour > customary or habitual mode of behaviour > [adjective] > that does something habitually
customablec1449
accustomablec1475
inure1475
usual1579
frequent1611
habituated1619
customary1629
regular1782
habitual1825
1579 in Southampton Court Leet Rec. (1906) ii. 167 Owen symons is a vsuall convayor of wood beyond the seas.
ΚΠ
1597 J. Payne Royall Exchange 27 The devill perswades sum carnall and viciouse parsons that there tyme ys well spent, beinge vsuall in the taverne.
7. absol.
a. the (his, etc.) usual, what is usual, customary, or frequent (esp. with a person or persons).
ΘΚΠ
the world > action or operation > behaviour > customary or habitual mode of behaviour > [noun] > usual course, condition, etc. > of a person or thing
the (his, etc.) usual1876
1876 ‘G. Eliot’ Daniel Deronda III. v. xxxv. 22 To be an unusual young man means for the most part to get a difficult mastery over the usual.
1892 E. Reeves Homeward Bound 189 Nothing in Naples is so clean as the horses' harness, and to-day the drivers outdid their usual.
1897 Daily News 23 Dec. 3/5 Coroner: How much whisky did he drink?—Witness: Eighteen half quarterns a night..was his usual.
b. colloquial. Customary state of health.
ΘΚΠ
the world > health and disease > [noun] > usual state of
usual1887
1887 A. S. Swan Gates of Eden xx Aunt Susan is in her usual, I know.
Derivatives
ˈusualness n.
ΘΚΠ
the world > action or operation > behaviour > customary or habitual mode of behaviour > [noun] > usualness
community1595
commonness1597
usualness1653
1653 H. More Antidote against Atheisme i. x. 30 The usualnesse of such dangers have made them loose the sense of the danger.
1706 S. Clarke Disc. Nat. Relig. 351 'Tis only usualness or unusualness that makes the distinction.
1727 N. Bailey Universal Etymol. Eng. Dict. II Frequentness, oftenness; usualness.
1876 A. D. Whitney Sights & Insights II. ix. 405 They had been two days together, as usual; the usualness is a great power.
This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1926; most recently modified version published online December 2021).
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adj.a1387