What is "to use one's self"

Use \Use\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Used; p. pr. & vb. n. Using.] [OE. usen, F. user to use, use up, wear out, LL. usare to use, from L. uti, p. p. usus, to use, OL. oeti, oesus; of uncertain origin. Cf. Utility.]

1. To make use of; to convert to one's service; to avail one's self of; to employ; to put a purpose; as, to use a plow; to use a chair; to use time; to use flour for food; to use water for irrigation.

   Launcelot Gobbo, use your legs.
   --Shak.

   Some other means I have which may be used.
   --Milton.

2. To behave toward; to act with regard to; to treat; as, to use a beast cruelly. ``I will use him well.''
   --Shak.

   How wouldst thou use me now?
   --Milton.

   Cato has used me ill.
   --Addison.

3. To practice customarily; to make a practice of; as, to use diligence in business.

   Use hospitality one to another.
   --1 Pet. iv. 9.

4. To accustom; to habituate; to render familiar by practice; to inure; -- employed chiefly in the passive participle; as, men used to cold and hunger; soldiers used to hardships and danger. I am so used in the fire to blow. --Chaucer. Thou with thy compeers, Used to the yoke, draw'st his triumphant wheels. --Milton. To use one's self, to behave. [Obs.] ``Pray, forgive me, if I have used myself unmannerly.'' --Shak. To use up.

   1. To consume or exhaust by using; to leave nothing of; as, to use up the supplies.

   2. To exhaust; to tire out; to leave no capacity of force or use in; to overthrow; as, he was used up by fatigue. [Colloq.]

      Syn: Employ.

      Usage: Use, Employ. We use a thing, or make use of it, when we derive from it some enjoyment or service. We employ it when we turn that service into a particular channel. We use words to express our general meaning; we employ certain technical terms in reference to a given subject. To make use of, implies passivity in the thing; as, to make use of a pen; and hence there is often a material difference between the two words when applied to persons. To speak of ``making use of another'' generally implies a degrading idea, as if we had used him as a tool; while employ has no such sense. A confidential friend is employed to negotiate; an inferior agent is made use of on an intrigue.

      I would, my son, that thou wouldst use the power Which thy discretion gives thee, to control And manage all.
      --Cowper.

      To study nature will thy time employ: Knowledge and innocence are perfect joy.
      --Dryden.