use

use ¹ /'yüs/ n

1 a: an arrangement in which property is granted to another with the trust and confidence that the grantor or another is entitled to the beneficial enjoyment of it see also trust; statute of uses in the important laws section

◇ Uses originated in early English law and were the origin of the modern trust. Uses became popular in medieval England, where they were often secretly employed as a method of evading laws (as those prohibiting mortmain) and penalties (as attainder) and to defeat creditors. In response, the Statute of Uses was enacted in 1535. The purpose of the Statute was to execute the use, investing the legal ownership of the property in the cestui que use, or one entitled to the beneficial enjoyment, and abolishing the ownership of the grantee. The Statute did not have blanket application, however. Certain uses, particularly those in which the grantee was not merely a passive holder of the property, were not executed under the Statute. These uses were called trusts, and they were the basis of the modern trust.

b: the right to the utilization and benefit of property to which legal title is held by another

the secret conveyance of use s in early English law; broadly: the fact or right of having the benefits and profits of property

beneficial use: the use of a cestui que use analogous to a beneficial interest in a trust: use (1b)

re·sult·ing use: a use that equity attributes back to a grantor when there is no person declared to receive it or no transfer of consideration

shift·ing use: a use that is transferred or takes effect in derogation of some estate upon the happening of a future event

spring·ing use: a use that arises upon the happening of a future event and is not in derogation of any other estate

2: the utilization of property, resources, or services

beneficial use

1: use of property that allows an owner to derive a benefit or profit in the exercise of a basic property right

the owner was entitled to just compensation when he was forced to sacrifice all beneficial use of the property see also unnecessary hardship compare taking

2: use of water for a reasonable or beneficial purpose consistent with the public interest

authorize the diversion of water for beneficial use

conditional use: use of property in a zone for a particular purpose that is allowed under conditions set forth in a zoning ordinance: special exception

fair use: a use of copyrighted material that does not constitute an infringement of the copyright provided the use is fair and reasonable and does not substantially impair the value of the work or the profits expected from it by its owner; also: the privilege of making a fair use of copyrighted work

◇ Among the factors determining if a use of a copyrighted work is a fair use are these: the purpose of the use, the character of the use (as in being commercial or educational in nature), the nature of the copyrighted work, and the amount of the work used.

non·con·form·ing use: use of property in a manner that does not conform to the restrictions of a zoning law (as an ordinance); specif: one in lawful existence when a restriction takes effect and so allowed to continue

public use

1: use by or to the benefit of the public; broadly: use that serves a legitimate or conceivable public purpose

nor shall private property be taken for public use, without just compensation — U.S. Constitution amend. V see also eminent domain compare taking

◇ If a taking of property is not for public use then the consent of the owner is required.

2: use of an invention by one who is under no limitation, restriction, or obligation of secrecy to the inventor

◇ Under federal law one is not entitled to a patent for an invention that was in public use more than a year prior to the date of application for the patent.

reasonable use

1: a use of one's property or of water that is for a suitable and beneficial purpose and that does not lead to unreasonable interference with another's use of property or with the natural flow of water

2 a: a rule whereby one may alter the natural flow of a watercourse as part of the reasonable use of property even though some harm results to another landowner

b: a rule whereby a use of the water under the surface of one's land that causes harm to an adjacent landowner is reasonable if made for a suitable purpose in connection with the overlying land

◇ This rule originated when cities began to use land in the country for wells that caused injury to adjacent farmers; the water was not for use there and so unreasonableness ultimately depended not on waste or harm but on the final destination of the water.

c: a rule that recognizes a landowner as entitled to make a reasonable use of property if it does not cause unreasonable harm to another and that may be applied to the alteration of a watercourse, the drainage of surface water, and the use of water beneath the surface

3: utilization of a motor vehicle in a manner that is not completely foreign to its purpose

insurance for accidents arising from the ownership, maintenance, or use of the car

use ² /'yüz/ vt used, us·ing: to put into service: have enjoyment of

us·er n