The form eops is a cross reference to the following entry:
Variant forms use and usse may also be read as usé and ussé, in which case they can be interpreted either as the past participle of user (in a verbal construction or possibly even used as a substantive) or as variants of the substantive usee. As the sense would be virtually the same in all cases, it is not possible to separate these fully.
Another level of confusion should be noted with the substantive ues. The overlap of form together with the closeness of the senses (us1 - ‘use’ versus ues - ‘advantage’) make these two words (with different etymologies – usus versus opus/ops) difficult to differentiate. It is likely that to a certain extent they merged, already in medieval times. For example, the locution a sun (etc.) (propre) us (‘for one’s (own) use’) is almost indistinguishable from a mun (etc.) ues (‘to my (etc.) advantage’) sub ues. The validity of including the locution here (in the usus group) is supported by the locution a l'usage de sub usage. At the same time the Latin expression ad opus (+gen.), meaning ‘for the benefit or use (of)’ (DMLBS opus 2041b), authenticates the inclusion of the locution sub ues as well.
[gdw]