v. Also -ise. [ad. F. utiliser (1792), ad. It. utilizzare (1760), f. utile UTILE a.: see -IZE, and cf. Sp. utilizar, Pg. -isar.]
1. trans. To make or render useful; to convert to use, turn to account.
Rare before 1858. ‘Utilise is fast antiquating improve, in the sense of “turn to account”’ (1873 F. Hall, Mod. Eng., 167).
1807. J. Barlow, Columbiad, IX. 683. [To] Improve and utilise each opening birth, And aid the labors of this nurturing earth.
1824. Westm. Rev., April, 454. Izmail and Kilia … are respectively able to nullify or to utilize the northern mouth of the Danube.
1860. Ruskin, Mod. Paint., V. IX. xi. § 22. Let all physical exertion … be utilized.
1882. Pitman, Mission Life in Greece & Pal., 123. Her services could not be utilised for missions.
2. intr. To make oneself of use. rare–1.
1883. Howells, Register, i. Come in here and sympathize a little!… Miss S. No, you come out here and utilize a little.
Hence Utilized ppl. a., Utilizing vbl. sb.
1859. in N. & Q., 3rd Ser. VI. 306/1. Odd proposals for the utilising of power.
1881. P. Geddes in Nature, XXIV. 524. The application of the utilised matter and energy by the given society.
