Was of use (7)
I believe the answer is:
availed
<span class="explanation-format__ClueExplanation">'<span class="explanation-format__original">was of use</span>' is the definition.<br/ ><span class="explanation-format__explanation">(I've seen this in another clue)</span><br/ ><br/ >This is the entire clue.<br/ ></span>
(Other definitions for availed that I've seen before include "Helped" , "Used to one's advantage" , "Profited from" , "Used, put into service" .)