U'SAGE, n s as z. [See Use.] 1. Treatment; an action or series of actions performed by one person towards another, or which directly affect him; as good usage; ill usage; hard usage Gentle usage will often effect what harsh usage will not. The elephant may be governed by mild usage 2. Use, or long continued use; custom; practice. Uninterrupted usage for a long time, or immemorial usage constitutes prescription. Custom is a local usage; prescription is a personal usage In language, usage is the foundation of all rules. Of things once received and confirmed by use, long usage is a law sufficient. 3. Manners; behavior. obsolete
Source: Webster's 1828 American Dictionary ↗ · public-domain · returned verbatim, no AI