seldom-used
|sel-dom-used|
B2
/ˈsɛldəm juːzd/
rarely employed
Etymology
Etymology Information
'seldom-used' originates from the combination of 'seldom,' an Old English word 'seldan,' meaning 'rarely,' and 'used,' from the Old French 'user,' meaning 'to employ.'
Historical Evolution
'Seldan' transformed into the Middle English 'seldom,' and 'user' became 'use' in modern English, eventually forming the compound adjective 'seldom-used.'
Meaning Changes
Initially, 'seldom' meant 'rarely,' and 'used' meant 'employed.' The compound 'seldom-used' retains the meaning of 'rarely employed.'
Meanings by Part of Speech
Adjective 1
not often used or rarely employed.
The seldom-used tool was covered in dust.
Synonyms
Antonyms
Last updated: 2025/06/19 10:24