"second-hand," 1590s, past participle adjective from use (v.). To be used to "accustomed, familiar" is recorded by late 14c. Verbal phrase used to "formerly did or was" (as in I used to love her) represents a construction attested from c. 1300, and common from c. 1400, from use (intransitive) "be accustomed, practice customarily," but now surviving only in past tense form. The pronunciation is affected by the t- of to. Used-to-be (n.) "one who has outlived his fame" is from 1853.
雙語例句
1. Too bad he used his intelligence for criminal purposes.
他把聰明都用在了犯罪上，太可惜了。
來自柯林斯例句
2. Acupressure is used to release tension spots in the shoulders and neck.
指壓按摩用于緩解肩部和頸部的緊張。
來自柯林斯例句
3. Eisenhower used his muscle to persuade Congress to change the law.
艾森豪威爾用他的影響力說服國會修改了該項法律。
來自柯林斯例句
4. These expressions are often used interchangeably, but they do have different meanings.
這些表達方式經常相互替代使用，但它們的含義卻有所不同。
來自柯林斯例句
5. They used force to banish the natives from the more fertile land.