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verb (used with object)
1.
to use wrongly or improperly; misuse: to abuse one's authority.
2.
to treat in a harmful, injurious, or offensive way: to abuse a horse; to abuse one's eyesight.
3.
to speak insultingly, harshly, and unjustly to or about; revile; malign.
4.
to commit sexual assault upon.
5.
Obsolete. to deceive or mislead.
noun
6.
wrong or improper use; misuse: the abuse of privileges.
7.
harshly or coarsely insulting language: The officer heaped abuse on his men.
8.
bad or improper treatment; maltreatment: The child was subjected to cruel abuse.
9.
a corrupt or improper practice or custom: the abuses of a totalitarian regime.
10.
EXPANDrape or sexual assault.
11.
COLLAPSEObsolete. deception.
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Abuse
is one of our favorite verbs.
So is skedaddle. Does it mean:
| to swindle, cheat, hoodwink, or hoax. |
| to run away hurriedly; flee. |
12.
abuse oneself, to masturbate.
Origin:
1400–50; (v.) late Middle English abusen < Middle French abuser, verbal derivative of abus < Latin abūsus misuse, wasting, equivalent to abūt(ī) to use up, misuse (ab- ab- + ūtī to use) + -tus suffix of v. action; (noun) late Middle English abus < Middle French abus or Latin abūsus
1400–50; (v.) late Middle English abusen < Middle French abuser, verbal derivative of abus < Latin abūsus misuse, wasting, equivalent to abūt(ī) to use up, misuse (ab- ab- + ūtī to use) + -tus suffix of v. action; (noun) late Middle English abus < Middle French abus or Latin abūsus
Related forms
a·bus·er, noun
an·ti·a·buse, adjective
o·ver·a·buse, noun, verb (used with object), o·ver·a·bused, o·ver·a·bus·ing.
un·a·bus·a·ble, adjective
EXPANDun·a·bused, adjective
COLLAPSESynonyms
1. misapply. 2. ill-use, maltreat, injure, harm, hurt. 3. vilify, vituperate, berate, scold; slander, defame, calumniate, traduce. 6. misapplication. 7. slander, aspersion. Abuse, censure, invective all mean strongly expressed disapproval. Abuse implies an outburst of harsh and scathing words against another (often one who is defenseless): abuse directed against an opponent. Censure implies blame, adverse criticism, or hostile condemnation: severe censure of acts showing bad judgment. Invective applies to strong but formal denunciation in speech or print, often in the public interest: invective against graft.
1. misapply. 2. ill-use, maltreat, injure, harm, hurt. 3. vilify, vituperate, berate, scold; slander, defame, calumniate, traduce. 6. misapplication. 7. slander, aspersion. Abuse, censure, invective all mean strongly expressed disapproval. Abuse implies an outburst of harsh and scathing words against another (often one who is defenseless): abuse directed against an opponent. Censure implies blame, adverse criticism, or hostile condemnation: severe censure of acts showing bad judgment. Invective applies to strong but formal denunciation in speech or print, often in the public interest: invective against graft.
Antonyms
3, 7. praise.
3, 7. praise.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2012.
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Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2012.
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|
Link To Abuse
Collins
World English Dictionary
| abuse | |
| —vb | |
| 1. | to use incorrectly or improperly; misuse |
| 2. | to maltreat, esp physically or sexually |
| 3. | to speak insultingly or cruelly to; revile |
| 4. | (reflexive) to masturbate |
| —n | |
| 5. | improper, incorrect, or excessive use; misuse |
| 6. | maltreatment of a person; injury |
| 7. | insulting, contemptuous, or coarse speech |
| 8. | an evil, unjust, or corrupt practice |
| 9. | See child abuse |
| 10. | archaic a deception |
| [c14 (vb): via Old French from Latin abūsus, past participle of abūtī to misuse, from | |
| a'buser | |
| —n | |
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 10th Edition
2009 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009
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2009 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009
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Etymonline
Word Origin & History
abuse
early 15c., from M.Fr. abuser, from V.L. *abusare, from L. abusus, pp. of abuti "use up," also "misuse," from ab- "away" + uti "use" (see use). Specifically of drugs, from 1968. The noun is first recorded mid-15c., from Fr. abus (14c.).
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
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American Heritage
Medical Dictionary
abuse a·buse (ə-by&oomacr;z')
v. a·bused, a·bus·ing, a·bus·es
To use wrongly or improperly; misuse.
To hurt or injure physically by maltreatment.
To assail with contemptuous, coarse, or insulting words; revile.
Improper use or handling, as of a drug; misuse.
Physical maltreatment, as of a spouse or child.
Insulting or coarse language.
a·bus'er n.
The American Heritage® Stedman's Medical Dictionary
Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company.
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Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company.
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Word Dynamo Rating For Abuse
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