time-of-use
time-of-use
UK[ˌtaɪm əv ˈjuːs]US[ˌtaɪm əv ˈjuːs]
adj
Relating to or denoting a system of charging for a utility (especially electricity) in which the rate varies according to the time of day it is consumed.
Morpheme Breakdown
time
of
use
time
of
use
Etymology
The compound "time-of-use" is a modern English formation, constructed entirely from native Germanic and early Romance elements to create a precise technical term. The word "time" has a deep Germanic origin, traceable to Proto-Indo-European dā- ("to divide"), reflecting its fundamental concept of measured intervals. The preposition "of" serves as a simple syntactic link, while "use" entered English via French from the Latin uti ("to use"), carrying the sense of employment or utility. When combined in the late 20th century, these transparent morphemes logically describe a system where the time at which a service is put to use directly determines its cost, evolving from literal components into a standardized adjective for utility pricing models.
Analysis
Structure: time + of + use
- time: From Old English tīma, meaning a period or season. In this compound, it functions as a noun specifying a particular dimension or period.
- of: From Old English of, a preposition indicating origin, separation, or relation. Here it functions as a grammatical connector.
- use: From Old French us, from Latin usus, meaning act of using or employing. In this compound, it functions as a noun indicating the purpose or action.
Examples
The utility company offers a time-of-use rate plan to encourage off-peak electricity consumption.
Customers can save money by running major appliances during the cheaper periods of their time-of-use tariff.
The new smart meter accurately tracks energy consumption for time-of-use billing.