usuel

Usuel is a French adjective meaning "usual," "customary," or "ordinary." It describes things that occur in the standard way or according to common practice, as in phrases such as la pratique usuelle (the usual practice) or l’usage usuel (the usual usage). The masculine singular form is usuel; the feminine singular is usuelle; the masculine plural is usuels and the feminine plural is usuelles.

Origin and form: The word comes from Old French usuel, itself from Latin usus meaning "use" or "practice," with a suffix that forms an adjective indicating relation to use. The sense extended from referring to use or habit to broader notions of standardness and normalcy.

Usage and nuances: Usuel is widely employed in formal and descriptive language, including administrative, legal, and scholarly writing, to designate something that is standard or customary within a given context. It sits near synonyms such as habituel, ordinaire, courant, and commun, though it carries a nuance of conformity to established practice rather than mere frequency. Habituel emphasizes repetition by habit; usuel emphasizes alignment with customary practice within a domain.

Examples: Le moyen usuel de transport (the usual transport method); à la manière usuelle (in the customary manner). The term is common in phrases addressing standard procedures, common practices, or typical conditions in a given field.

See also: usage, habituel, ordinaire.