usato

Usato is an Italian term that functions as the past participle of the verb usare, meaning to use. It also serves as an adjective meaning previously used or second-hand. In Italian, the adjective agrees in gender and number: usato (masculine singular), usata (feminine singular), usati (masculine plural), usate (feminine plural). In verbal forms, used with the auxiliary avere, as in ho usato, hai usato, ha usato, the participle denotes action completed in the past.

Etymology and related terms: Usato derives from the Latin noun usus, meaning use or experience, via the development of the Italian verb usare. The related noun uso refers to usage or use in a general sense, while the noun usato is not standard as a standalone noun beyond its adjectival role.

Usage in language: Usato is common in everyday Italian to describe objects that are not new. It is widely seen in commerce and everyday speech as in auto usate (used cars), libri usati (used books), vestiti usati (second-hand clothing). It can also describe actions or methods that have been applied, e.g., ho usato quel metodo (I used that method). When describing a negation or absence of use, phrases like non usato or non utilizzato may appear depending on context and register.

See also: uso, usare, utilizzo, oggetti usati. In specialized contexts, usato can appear alongside synonyms such as ricondizionato (refurbished) or di seconda mano (second-hand) to convey specific nuances of condition or provenance.