usual

adj, noun — 3 senses

usual

adj

UK /ˈjuː.ʒʊəl/ · US /ˈju.ʒuəl/

Etymology From Middle English usual, from Old French usuel, from Latin ūsuālis (“for use, fit for use, also of common use, customary, common, ordinary, usual”), from ūsus (“use, habit, custom”), from the past participle stem of ūtī (“to use”), possibly ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *h₃eyt- (“to take along, fetch”). Displaced native Old English ġewunelīċ.

1

Most commonly occurring; typical.

  • The preference of a boy to a girl is a usual occurrence in some parts of China.
  • It is becoming more usual these days to rear children as bilingual.
2 more examples
  • We saw as many as usual.
  • And ſince this Family, called Ciu, which now holdeth the Souereigntie, hath reigned, it is called Min [translating 明 (Míng)], which intimateth Splendour, and by vſuall addition of one ſyllable Ta-min [translating 大明 (Dàmíng)], that is, the Kingdome of Great Splendour, Brightneſſe or Glory.1625, [Samuel] Purchas, “A Diſcourſe of the Kingdome of China”, in Purchas His Pilgrimes. […], 3rd part, London: […] William Stansby for Henrie Fetherstone, […], →OCLC, 2nd book, § V, page 380:
Derived terms
as per the usual, as per usual, as usual, business-as-usual, business as usual, unusual, usual channels, usually, usualness, usual office, usual offices, usual suspects, uzhe, yewzh
Related terms
usuality

usual

noun

Etymology From Middle English usual, from Old French usuel, from Latin ūsuālis (“for use, fit for use, also of common use, customary, common, ordinary, usual”), from ūsus (“use, habit, custom”), from the past participle stem of ūtī (“to use”), possibly ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *h₃eyt- (“to take along, fetch”). Displaced native Old English ġewunelīċ.

1

The typical state of something, or something that is typical.

2

Colloquial A specific good or service (e.g. a drink) that someone typically orders.

  • I'll just have the usual.
  • Two usuals, please.

Entry derived from the Wiktionary, under licence CC BY-SA 4.0 — list of authors.