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misuse

 - 3 dictionary results

mis⋅use

  [n. mis-yoos; v. mis-yooz] noun, verb, -used, -us⋅ing.
Use misuse in a Sentence
–noun
1. wrong or improper use; misapplication.
2. Obsolete. bad or abusive treatment.
–verb (used with object)
3. to use wrongly or improperly; misapply.
4. to treat badly or abusively; maltreat.
Origin:
1350–1400; ME; see mis- 1 , use

Synonyms:
1. misemployment, misappropriation.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
Cite This Source Link To misuse
mis·use   (mĭs-yōōs')   
n.  Improper, unlawful, or incorrect use; misapplication.
tr.v.   (-yōōz') mis·used, mis·us·ing, mis·us·es

  1. To use incorrectly.

  2. To mistreat or abuse. See Synonyms at abuse.

The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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Word Origin & History

misuse  (v.)
c.1374, "to use improperly;" see mis- (1) + use (v.). Meaning "to subject to ill-treatment" is attested from 1540. The noun is from 1398, in a sense related to the older meaning of the verb.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper
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