usuform adj.

of a robot: designed strictly for functional purposes, rather than having an anthropomorphic form

Now rare.

Robotics

  • 1943 ‘H. H. Holmes’ Q.U.R. in Astounding Science-Fiction Mar. 83/2 page image Anthony Boucher H. H. Holmes bibliography

    I’ve got it. Usuform. Quinby’s Usuform Robots. Q. U. R.

  • 1952 H. B. Fyfe Manners of the Age in Galaxy Science Fiction Mar. 40/2 page image H. B. Fyfe bibliography

    Several dark usuform robots were smoothing the sand on this beach under the direction of a blue humanoid superviser.

  • 1954 P. S. Miller The Reference Library in Astounding Science Fiction Mar. 158/1 page image P. Schuyler Miller bibliography

    Lewis Padgett, with ‘Deadlock’ shows one of the logical impasses of thinking humanoid robots, and H. H. Holmes in ‘Robinc’ depicts the android-usuform conflict.

  • 1961 E. E. Smith & E. E. Evans Masters of Space in Worlds of If Nov. 14/1 page image Edward E. Smith E. Everett Evans bibliography

    Each continent had one city, and both were small. One was inhabited by what looked like human beings; the other by usuform robots.

  • 1964 A. Rogers A Requiem For Astounding 116 page image Alva Rogers bibliography

    White claims to have coined the word usuform to describe robots designed for optimum use regardless of final form in contrast to robots built in an impracticable human form.

  • 1972 ‘A. Boucher’ Man’s Reach in Magazine of Fantasy & Science Fiction Nov. 71/1 page image Anthony Boucher bibliography

    It’s a fine example of a usuform robot, made to do one thing superlatively well.

  • 1978 G. Turner Beloved Son 312 page image George Turner bibliography

    Accustomed to light and color and usuform practicality, he saw only a clutter of somber and depressing furnishings; it was easy to ignore these oddities in favor of the apparition of Heathcote.

  • 1985 B. Stableford & D. Langford The Third Millennium: A History of the World, AD 2000–3000 107/3 page image Brian Stableford David Langford bibliography

    These miners were ‘usuform’ robots with interchangeable plug-in brain modules devised for specific jobs.

Research requirements

postdating 1985
Earliest cite

Anthony Boucher (as "H. H. Holmes"), in Astounding
Research History
Suggested, and most cites submitted, by Bill Mullins.

Last modified 2026-02-21 01:07:12
In the compilation of some entries, HDSF has drawn extensively on corresponding entries in OED.