verbthird conjugation, deponent
ūtor
ūtor (present infinitive ūtī, perfect active ūsus sum)
Classical[ˈuː.tɔr]Ecclesiastical[ˈuː.tor]
№ 330 of the 1,000 commonest wordsMille Verba core vocabulary
Meaning
- deponentto use, make use of, employ
late 1st c. BC, Livy, Ab Urbe Condita 22.51 (reportedly said by Hasdrubal, Hannibal's brother, when Hannibal failed to invade Rome after his victory at Cannae)
You know how to obtain victory, Hannibal, but you do not know how to use it.Ad quem tum Iūnō supplex hīs vōcibus ūsa est:
To this one then Juno, suppliant, used these words: (Note the correlation of the indicative perfect tense verb “usa est” with the ablative plural “his vocibus”: Juno used, or that is to say, spoke “with these words”.)29 BCE – 19 BCE, Vergilius, Aeneis 1.64 - deponentto enjoy, indulge in, take advantage of
Bene Sophoclēs, cum ex eō quidem iam adfectō aetāte quaereret, ūterēturne rēbus veneris. “Dī meliōrā!” inquit, “libenter vērō istinc sīcut ab dominō agrestī ac furiōsō profugī.”
Sophocles [said it] well when, surely already affected by age, he was asked whether [he] was indulging in the pleasures of love. “Heaven forbid!” he replied. “Indeed, [I] have fled from those things as gladly as [I would] from a savage and furious master.” (Third person singular imperfect subjunctive uteretur + enclitic particle -ne, which introduces an indirect question. A reference to Plato, The Republic, 1.329.)106 BCE – 43 BCE, Cicero, Cato Maior de Senectute 14.47 - deponentto experience, undergo, encounter
- deponentto wear, consume
Latīnē defined in Latin in our graded readers
rem ad opus meum adhibeō; gladiō ūtor.ūtor ūtī ūsus — in Mille Verba, Mercātus
in ūsum vocōūtor, ūtī — in IVLIANVS I: Gallia, ch. 5
you use
ūteris — in Seneca, ch. VII
Choosing the right word Döderlein's Latin Synonyms
Fœnus · Usura
Fœnus (from φύω, fœtus,) denotes interest as the produce of capital, like τόκος; usura denotes what is paid by the debtor for the use of capital, like δάνος. (vi. 133.)
Conjugation conjugation 3 deponent
| form | present | imperfect | future | perfect | pluperfect | fut. perfect |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1st sg. | ūtor | ūtēbar | ūtar | — | — | — |
| 2nd sg. | ūteris ūtere | ūtēbāris ūtēbāre | ūtēris ūtēre | — | — | — |
| 3rd sg. | ūtitur | ūtēbātur | ūtētur | — | — | — |
| 1st pl. | ūtimur | ūtēbāmur | ūtēmur | — | — | — |
| 2nd pl. | ūtiminī | ūtēbāminī | ūtēminī | — | — | — |
| 3rd pl. | ūtuntur | ūtēbantur | ūtentur | — | — | — |
active subjunctive
| form | present | imperfect | perfect | pluperfect |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1st sg. | ūtar | ūterer | — | — |
| 2nd sg. | ūtāris ūtāre | ūterēris ūterēre | — | — |
| 3rd sg. | ūtātur | ūterētur | — | — |
| 1st pl. | ūtāmur | ūterēmur | — | — |
| 2nd pl. | ūtāminī | ūterēminī | — | — |
| 3rd pl. | ūtantur | ūterentur | — | — |
imperative
| form | active | passive |
|---|---|---|
| pres. 2nd sg. | ūtere | — |
| pres. 2nd pl. | ūtiminī | — |
| fut. 2nd sg. | ūtitor | — |
| fut. 3rd sg. | ūtitor | — |
| fut. 3rd pl. | ūtuntor | — |
infinitives & participles
| form | active | passive |
|---|---|---|
| present infinitive | ūtī | — |
| perfect infinitive | ūsum esse | — |
| future infinitive | ūsūrum esse | — |
| present participle | ūtēns | — |
| perfect participle | ūsus ūsa, ūsā, ūsae, ūsam, ūsārum, ūsās, ūse, ūsī, ūsīs, ūsō, ūsōrum, ūsōs | — |
| future participle | ūsūrus ūsūra, ūsūrā, ūsūrae, ūsūram, ūsūrārum, ūsūrās, ūsūre, ūsūrī, ūsūrīs, ūsūrō, ūsūrōrum, ūsūrōs, ūsūrum | ūtendus ūtundus, ūtenda, ūtendā, ūtendae, ūtendam, ūtendārum, ūtendās, ūtende, ūtendīs, ūtendōrum, ūtendōs |
gerundūtendī, ūtendō, ūtendumsupineūsum, ūsū
Phrases from Meissner's Latin Phrase-Book
- usus me docuit
- experience has taught me.
- usura menstrua
- monthly interest.
- quincunces usurae
- 5 per cent.
- quadrantes usurae
- 3 per cent (a quarter of centesima).
- usu praeditum esse
- to possess experience.
- multarum rerum usus
- varied, manifold experience.
- usui or ex usu esse
- to be of use.
- usu cognitum habemus
- we know from experience.
22 more phrases
- ut hoc utar or afferam
- to use this example.
- more, usu receptum est
- it is traditional usage.
- cotidiani sermonis usus
- the ordinary usage of language, everyday speech.
- ut Ciceronis verbis utar
- to use Cicero's expression; to say with Cicero (not ut cum Cicerone loquar).
- usurae semissium (Colum.)
- 6 per cent.
- usurae semisses (Jurists)
- 6 per cent.
- doctrinam ad usum adiungere
- to combine theory with practice.
- aliquid in usum suum conferre
- to employ in the furtherance of one's interests.
- magnum usum in aliqua re habere
- to have had great experience in a thing.
- vetus usus inter nos intercedit
- we have known each other well for several years.
- qui magnum in castris usum habent
- veterans; experienced troops.
- in rebus atque in usu versatum esse
- to have had practical experience.
- res ipsa, usus rerum (cotidie) docet
- everyday experience tells us this.
- suis legibus utitur (B. G. 1. 45. 3)
- (a state) has its own laws, is autonomous.
- est mihi consuetudo, or usus cum aliquo
- to be on friendly terms with a person.
- amplis honoribus usus (Sall. Iug. 25. 4)
- a man who has held many offices.
- otio abūti or otium ad suum usum transferre
- to use up, make full use of one's spare time.
- trientes or trientariae usurae (Att. 4. 15)
- 4 per cent.
- pecuniam alicui credere (sine fenore, usuris)
- to lend some one money (without interest).
- usu rerum (vitae, vitae communis) edocti sumus
- we know from experience.
- magnum usum in re militari habere (Sest. 5. 12)
- to possess great experience in military matters.
- usu, familiaritate, consuetudine coniunctum esse cum aliquo
- to be on friendly terms with a person.
ūtor (old form oetor, oesus, etc., from oitor, oisus, Lex. Thor. lin. 11;
I. inf. parag. oetier, Rogat. Tribun. ap. Fest. p. 246 Müll.; Cic. Leg. 3, 4), ūsus (inf. utier, Plaut. Cas. 2, 3, 4; Ter. Phorm. 4, 2, 13), 3, v. dep. etym. dub..
I. Prop., to use.
A. With abl.
1. To make use of, employ: cave ... ne tibi hoc scipione malum magnum dem. Paeg. Jam utere eo, Plaut. Pers. 5, 2, 36: Th. Oh Epidicumne ego conspicor? Ep. Certe oculis utere, Plaut. Ep. 1, 1, 4:
hoc oculo, id. Mil. 4, 7, 25: sola potest animi per se natura ... durare et sensibus uti, Lucr. 3, 560: de rebus ipsis utere tuo judicio, Cic. Off. 1, 1, 2: utinam, quem ad modum oratione sum usurus alienā, sic mihi ore uti liceret alieno, id. Rep. 3, 5, 8: utor neque perantiquis neque inhumanis ac feris testibus, cite, appeal to, id. ib. 1, 37, 58: neque enim accusatore muto neque teste quisquam utitur eo, qui de accusatoris subsellio surgit, id. Rosc. Am. 36, 104: num argumentis utendum in re ejus modi? Cic. Verr. 2, 4, 6, § 11: mancipium, quo et omnes utimur, et non praebetur a populo, id. ib. 2, 4, 5, § 9: quo interprete non ad linguam Graecam, sed ad furta et flagitia uti solebat, id. ib. 2, 3, 37, § 84: ut postea numquam dextro (oculo) aeque bene usus sit, Nep. Hann. 4, 3: si licet exemplis in parvo grandibus uti, Ov. Tr. 1, 3, 25: viribus utendum est, quas fecimus, Luc. 1, 347.—With ad: ad eam rem usus est tuā mihi operā Sa. Utere, ut vis, Plaut. Pers. 2, 5, 27: earum (navium) materiā atque aere ad reliquas reficiendas utebatur, Caes. B. G. 4, 31: administris ad ea sacrificia Druidibus, id. ib. 6, 16: ut eā potestate ad quaestum uteretur, Cic. Q. Fr. 1, 1, 3, § 11: ad quam rem (deus) motu mentis ac ratione utatur, id. N. D. 1, 37, 104.—With pro: utuntur aut aere aut taleis ferreis ad certum pondus examinatis pro nummo, Caes. B. G. 5, 12.—2. Esp.
a. To manage, control, wield:
bene ut armis, optime ut equis uteretur, Cic. Deiot. 10, 28: nemo est quin eo ipso (equo), quo consuevit, libentius utatur quam intractato, id. Lael. 19, 68.—b. To spend, use:
velim cum illā videas ut sit qui utamur (sc. pecunia), Cic. Att. 11, 11, 2: tantis vectigalibus ad liberalitatem utens, id. Fin. 2, 26, 84: cum horis nostris nos essemus usi, spent, exhausted, Cic. Verr. 2, 1, 11, § 30.—Absol.: notum et quaerere et uti, Hor. Ep. 1, 7, 57.—c. To wear:
pellibus aut parvis renonum tegimentis utuntur, magnā corporis parte nudā, Caes. B. G. 6, 21 fin.: ne insignibus quidem regiis Tullus nisi jussu populi est ausus uti, Cic. Rep. 2, 17, 31.—d. To accept, adopt:
eā condicione, quae a Caesare ferretur, se usuros ostendebant, Caes. B. G. 4, 11: praeposteris enim utimur consiliis et acta agimus, Cic. Lael. 22, 85.—e. To resort to, consult:
neque Vectium ad se arcessit, quaestorem suum, cujus consilio uteretur, Cic. Verr. 2, 5, 44, § 114: oraculo, Tac. A. 2, 54.—f. Of a form or style of speech, sentiment, etc., to make, adopt, employ:
sermonibus morologis utier, Plaut. Ps. 5, 1, 21: si provincia loqui posset, hac voce uteretur, Cic. Div. in Caecin. 5, 19: hac unā defensione, Cic. Verr. 2, 4, 4, § 8: haec oratio, quā me uti res publica coëgit, id. Rosc. Am. 49, 143: cum hortatione non egeas, non utar eā pluribus verbis, id. Fam. 11, 5, 3: illa criminatio, quā in me absentem usus est, id. Agr. 3, 1, 3.—g. To perform, exercise, practise, etc.:
crucior, patrem ... nunc inprobi viri officio uti, Plaut. Stich. 1, 1, 14: eādem nos disciplinā utimur, id. As. 1, 3, 49; cf.: nec vero habere virtutem satis est quasi artem aliquam, nisi utare: etsi ars quidem, cum eā non utare, scientiā ipsā teneri potest, Cic. Rep. 1, 2, 2: diuturni silentii, quo eram his temporibus usus, finem hodiernus dies attulit, observed, kept, id. Marcell. 1, 1: eos (senes) ego fortasse nunc imitor et utor aetatis vitio, id. Fam. 2, 16, 6: ratione utuntur, exercise moderation, Plaut. Cas. prol. 27: ut anteponantur ... ratione utentia rationis expertibus, Cic. Top. 18, 69: ne tu, leno, postules Te hic fide lenoniā uti: non potis, Plaut. Rud. 5, 3, 30: viribus uteris per clivos, Hor. Ep. 1, 13, 10.—With adverb. acc.: ut hoc utimur maxime more moro multum, Plaut. Men. 4, 2, 1: ita aperte ipsam rem locutus nil circuitione usus es, Ter. And. 1, 2, 31.—h. In gen., to use, enjoy, profit by, take advantage of, etc.: otio qui nescit uti plus negoti habet, quam, etc., Enn. ap. Gell. 19, 20, 12 (Trag. Rel. v. 252 Vahl.): sinite ... eodem ut jure uti senem Liceat, quo jure sum usus adulescentior, i. e. enjoy, exercise, Ter. Hec. prol. alt. 2:
commodius esse opinor duplici spe utier, id. Phorm. 4, 2, 13: serius a terrā provectae naves neque usae nocturnā aurā in redeundo offenderunt, Caes. B. C. 3, 8: commoda quibus utimur lucemque quā fruimur ab eo nobis dari, Cic. Rosc. Am. 45, 131: in maximo meo dolore hoc solacio utor, quod, etc., id. Fam. 11, 26 init.: usus est hoc cupidine, tamdiu, dum, etc., had the use of, i. e. borrowed, Cic. Verr. 2, 4, 3, § 6; cf. I. B. 2. infra: utatur suis bonis oportet et fruatur, qui beatus futurus est, id. N. D. 1, 37, 103: propter nauticarum rerum scientiam plurimisque maritimis rebus fruimur atque utimur, id. ib. 2, 60, 152: si fortunā permittitis uti, to try, take advantage of, Verg. A. 9, 240: nostrā utere amicitiā, ut voles, Ter. Hec. 5, 1, 38; cf.: decet hunc ordinem ... bene utier amicitiā, Plaut. Cist. 1, 1, 24: libertate modice utantur, Liv. 34, 49, 8: deorum Muneribus sapienter uti, Hor. C. 4, 9, 48: Ofellam Integris opibus novi non latius usum Quam nunc accisis, id. S. 2, 2, 113: quia parvo nesciet uti, id. Ep. 1, 10, 41: temporibus sapienter utens, taking advantage of, Nep. Epam. 3, 1.—Prov.: foro uti, to make one's market, i. e. accommodate one's prices, actions, etc., to circumstances, take advantage of events: scisti uti foro, Ter. Phorm. 1, 2, 29.—Absol.: opportunae sunt divitiae ut utare (sc. eis), Cic. Lael. 6, 22.— With adverb. acc.: ne Silius quidem quicquam utitur (sc. suis hortis), Cic. Att. 12, 22, 3. —k. Of passions, traits of character, etc., to indulge, practise, exercise, yield to, etc.:
inter nos amore utemur semper subrepticio? Plaut. Curc. 1, 3, 49: alacritate ac studio, Caes. B. G. 4, 24: severitas, quā tu in iis rebus usus es, Cic. Q. Fr. 1, 1, 6, § 19: usus est ipse incredibili patientiā, id. Phil. 1, 4, 9: ego pervicaciam (esse hanc) aio, et eā me uti volo, Att. ap. Non. 433, 1 (Trag. Rel. v. 5 Rib.): dementer amoribus usa, Ov. M. 4, 259.—With in and acc.: ut suā clementiā ac mansuetudine in eos utatur, Caes. B. G. 2, 14.—1. To experience, undergo, receive, enjoy, etc., ne simili utamur fortunā atque usi sumus, Quom, etc., Ter. Phorm. prol. 31:
hoc honore usi togati solent esse, Cic. Phil. 8, 11, 32: homines amplissimis usos honoribus, id. Fl. 19, 45: nobiles amplis honoribus usi, Sall. J. 25, 4: neminem curuli honore usum praeterierunt, Liv. 34, 44, 4: primus externorum usus illo honore quem majores Latio quoque negaverint, Plin. 7, 43, 44, § 136: quoniam semel est odio civiliter usus, Ov. Tr. 3, 8, 41.—m. To use as food or medicine, to take, drink, etc.:
lacte mero veteres usi memorantur et herbis, Ov. F. 4, 369: aquis frigidis, Cels. 1, 1: antidoto, Scrib. Comp. 171: medicamento, id. ib. 228: vino modice, Cels. 8, 11: ex altero (loco, i. e. ex lacu) ut pecus uti possit (sc. aquā), Varr. R. R. 1, 11, 2.—B. With the thing used, etc., as direct obj. (class. only in gerund. constr.; v. infra): nuptias abjeci, amicos utor primoris viros, Turp. ap. Non. p. 497, 15 (Com. Rel. v. 164 Rib.):
facilitatem vulgariam, Nov. ib. 481, 21 (Com. Rel. v. 98 ib.): res pulchras, quas uti solet, id. ib. 500, 16 (Com. Rel. v. 69 ib.): ita uti eum oportet libertatem, Titin. ib. 481, 19 (Com. Rel. v. 98 ib.): cetera quae volumus uti Graecā mercamur fide, Plaut. As. 1, 3, 47: dic mihi, an boni quid usquam'st, quod quisquam uti possiet, id. Merc. 1, 2, 37: diutine uti bene licet partum bene, id. Rud. 4, 7, 15: profecto uteris ut voles operam meam, id. Poen. 5, 2, 128: mea, quae praeter spem evenere, utantur sine, Ter. Ad. 5, 3, 29: BALINEVM ... QVOD VSI FVERANT AMPLIVS ANNIS XXXX., Inscr. Orell. 202: si quid est, quod utar, utor: si non est, egeo, Cato ap. Gell. 13, 23, 1: oleam albam, quam voles uti, condito, id. R. R. 118: quam rem etiam nomine eodem medici utuntur, Varr. R. R. 3, 16, 23: ferrum, Aur. Vict. Caes. 17, 4.—2. Hence, esp. gerund. in phrases dare utendum, to lend; recipere or rogare or petere utendum, to borrow, etc. (class.;
freq. in Plaut.): quod datum utendum'st, Plaut. Trin. 5, 2, 7: quae utenda vasa semper vicini rogant, id. Aul. 1, 2, 18; 2, 4, 32; 2, 9, 4; id. Pers. 1, 3, 47 sq.; id. Mil. 2, 3, 76; id. Rud. 3, 1, 10: auris tibi contra utendas dabo, Enn. ap. Non. 506, 1 (Trag. Rel. v. 364 Vahl.); Ter. Heaut. 1, 1, 81: quae bona is Heraclio omnia utenda ac possidenda tradiderat, Cic. Verr. 2, 2, 18, § 46: te, quod utendum acceperis, reddidisse, id. Tusc. 3, 17, 36: multa rogant utenda dari, data reddere nolunt, Ov. A. A. 1, 433.—II. Transf. (through the intermediate idea of having and using).
A. Pregn., to enjoy the friendship of any one; to be familiar or intimate with, to associate with a person.
a. With abl:
his Fabriciis semper est usus Oppianicus familiarissime, Cic. Clu. 16, 46: quā (Caeciliā) pater usus erat plurimum, id. Rosc. Am. 11, 27: Trebonio multos annos utor valde familiariter, id. Fam. 1, 3, 1: Lucceius qui multum utitur Bruto, id. Att. 16, 5, 3: utere Pompeio Grospho, Hor. Ep. 1, 12, 22: quo pacto deceat majoribus uti, id. ib. 1, 17, 2: si sciret regibus uti, ib. ib. 14: ita me verebatur ut me formatore morum, me quasi magistro uteretur, Plin. Ep. 8, 23, 2.—b. With acc.:
vilica vicinas aliasque mulieres quam minimum utatur, Cato, R. R. 143, 1.—B. To be in possession of a thing, esp. to have, hold, or find a thing in some particular mode or character; with abl.:
mihi si unquam filius erit, ne ille facili me utetur patre, he shall find an indulgent father in me, Ter. Heaut. 2, 1, 5; cf.: patre usus est diligente et diti, Nep. Att. 1, 2: bonis justisque regibus, Cic. Rep. 1, 33, 50: quae (sc. libertas) non in eo est, ut justo utamur domino, sed ut nullo, id. ib. 2, 23, 43; cf. id. Fin. 1, 1, 2: hic vide quam me sis usurus aequo, Cic. Verr. 2, 5, 59, § 154: ut is illis benignis usus est ad commodandum, id. ib. 2, 4, 3, § 6: ne bestiis quoque immanioribus uteremur, id. Rosc. Am. 26, 71: me Capitolinus convictore usus amicoque A puero est, Hor. S. 1, 4, 95: uteris monitoribus isdem, id. Ep. 2, 2, 154: valetudine non bonā, Caes. B. C. 3, 49: quo (sc. Philoctete) successore sagittae Herculis utuntur, Ov. M. 13, 52.—Absol.: nam pol placidum te et clementem eo usque modo ut volui usus sum in alto (= placidum te esse ut volui, sic te usus sum), Plaut. Trin. 4, 1, 8.—Hence, P. a.: ūtens, ntis, m., possessing, that possesses: utentior sane sit, i. e. a larger possessor, richer, Cic. Off. 2, 20, 71.Charlton Lewis's shorter dictionary for students: the same scholarship in plain, modern definitions.
ūtor (old, oetor), ūsus, ī, dep.,
to use, make use of, employ, profit by, take advantage of, enjoy, serve oneself with : utor neque perantiquis neque inhumanis testibus, cite: num argumentis utendum in re eius modi?: dextro (oculo) aeque bene, N.: exemplis in parvo grandibus uti, to apply, O.: naves neque usae nocturnā aurā in redeundo, Cs.: usus est hoc cupidine, tamdiu, dum, etc., i. e. borrowed: si fortunā permittitis uti, to take advantage of, V.: libertate modice utantur, L.: deorum Muneribus sapienter uti, H.: temporibus sapienter utens, taking advantage of, N.: opportunae sunt divitiae ut utare (sc. eis): administris ad ea sacrificia Druidibus, Cs.: ut eā potestate ad quaestum uteretur, might avail himself of: utuntur aut aere aut taleis ferreis ad certum pondus examinatis pro nummo, Cs.—Prov.: scisti uti foro, to make your market, i. e. to conciliate, T.—With acc. (old): Mea, quae praeter spem evenere, utantur sine, T.—Pass., only in gerundive: Quod illa aetas magis ad haec utenda idoneast, i. e. for these enjoyments, T.: te, quod utendum acceperis, reddidisse, what you borrowed: Multa rogant utenda dari, O.—To manage, control, wield: bene armis, optime equis.—To spend, use: notum et quaerere et uti, H.: cum horis nostris nos essemus usi, exhausted.—To wear: pellibus aut parvis tegimentis, Cs.: insignibus regiis.—To accept, adopt: eā condicione, quae a Caesare ferretur, Cs.: praeposteris consiliis.—To resort to, consult: quaestor, cuius consilio uteretur.—To make, adopt, employ, express oneself: si provincia loqui posset, hac voce uteretur: haec oratio, quā me uti res p. coëgit.— To perform, exercise, practise: virtute suā: Viribus per clivos, H.: nil circuitione, T.—To indulge, practise, exercise, yield to: alacritate ac studio, Cs.: incredibili patientiā: dementer amoribus, O.: suā clementiā in eos, Cs.—To experience, undergo, receive, enjoy: Ne simili utamur fortunā atque usi sumus, Quom, ete., T.: hoc honore usi togati solent esse.—To consume, take, drink: Lacte mero et herbis, O.—To enjoy the friendship of, be intimate with, associate with: quā (Caeciliā) pater usus erat plurimum: Utere Pompeio Grospho, H.: regibus, H.—With two abll., to use as, employ for, hold in the capacity of, find to be: Mihi si umquam filius erit, ne ille facili me utetur patre, shall find me an indulgent father, T.: hic vide quam me sis usurus aequo, i. e. how justly I have dealt with you: uteris monitoribus isdem, H.: valetudine non bonā, Cs.
Origins
From Proto-Italic *oitōr (with ūsus for *issus after ūtor), possibly from Proto-Indo-European *h₃eyt- (“to take along, fetch”). Compare the future tense οἴσω (oísō) of Ancient Greek φέρω (phérō, “carry”).