I. ˈyüzəˌfrəkt, ˈyüsəˌ- noun
( -s )
Etymology: Latin ususfructus, from usus (et) fructus use and enjoyment, from usus use + et and + fructus enjoyment — more at use , fruit
1. : the right of using and enjoying the fruits or profits of an estate or other thing belonging to another generally treated as a personal servitude
the land is held to be the property of the tribe … and the individual only enjoys the usufruct of a certain piece as long as he continues to cultivate it — G.B.Masefield
an estate given in usufruct
— see imperfect usufruct , perfect usufruct
2. : the right to use or enjoy something
like the skeptical miser you lost the usufruct of heaven — Denis Devlin
II. transitive verb
( -ed/-ing/-s )
: to hold (property) in usufruct