|
|
| |
Definitions for: Abuse
[n] cruel or inhumane treatment
[n] improper or excessive use
[n] a rude expression intended to offend or hurt; "when a student made a stupid mistake he spared them no abuse"; "they yelled insults at the visiting team"
[v] change the inherent purpose or function of something; "Don't abuse the system"; "The director of the factory misused the funds intended for the health care of his workers"
[v] use foul or abusive language towards; "The actress abused the policeman who gave her a parking ticket"; "The angry mother shouted at the teacher"
[v] treat badly; "This boss abuses his workers"
Webster (1913) Definition: A*buse", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Abused; p. pr. & vb. n.
Abusing.] [F. abuser; L. abusus, p. p. of abuti to abuse,
misuse; ab + uti to use. See Use.]
1. To put to a wrong use; to misapply; to misuse; to put to a
bad use; to use for a wrong purpose or end; to pervert;
as, to abuse inherited gold; to make an excessive use of;
as, to abuse one's authority.
This principle (if one may so abuse the word) shoots
rapidly into popularity. --Froude.
2. To use ill; to maltreat; to act injuriously to; to punish
or to tax excessively; to hurt; as, to abuse prisoners, to
abuse one's powers, one's patience.
3. To revile; to reproach coarsely; to disparage.
The . . . tellers of news abused the general.
--Macaulay.
4. To dishonor. ``Shall flight abuse your name?'' --Shak.
5. To violate; to ravish. --Spenser.
6. To deceive; to impose on. [Obs.]
Their eyes red and staring, cozened with a moist
cloud, and abused by a double object. --Jer. Taylor.
Syn: To maltreat; injure; revile; reproach; vilify;
vituperate; asperse; traduce; malign.
A*buse", n. [F. abus, L. abusus, fr. abuti. See Abuse,
v. t.]
1. Improper treatment or use; application to a wrong or bad
purpose; misuse; as, an abuse of our natural powers; an
abuse of civil rights, or of privileges or advantages; an
abuse of language.
Liberty may be endangered by the abuses of liberty,
as well as by the abuses of power. --Madison.
2. Physical ill treatment; injury. ``Rejoice . . . at the
abuse of Falstaff.'' --Shak.
3. A corrupt practice or custom; offense; crime; fault; as,
the abuses in the civil service.
Abuse after disappeared without a struggle..
--Macaulay.
4. Vituperative words; coarse, insulting speech; abusive
language; virulent condemnation; reviling.
The two parties, after exchanging a good deal of
abuse, came to blows. --Macaulay.
5. Violation; rape; as, abuse of a female child. [Obs.]
Or is it some abuse, and no such thing? --Shak.
Abuse of distress (Law), a wrongful using of an animal or
chattel distrained, by the distrainer.
Syn: Invective; contumely; reproach; scurrility; insult;
opprobrium.
Usage: Abuse, Invective. Abuse is generally prompted by
anger, and vented in harsh and unseemly words. It is
more personal and coarse than invective. Abuse
generally takes place in private quarrels; invective
in writing or public discussions. Invective may be
conveyed in refined language and dictated by
indignation against what is blameworthy. --C. J.
Smith.
Synonyms: blackguard, clapperclaw, contumely, ill-treat, ill-treatment, ill-usage, ill-use, insult, maltreat, maltreatment, mistreat, misuse, misuse, pervert, revilement, shout, vilification
See Also: assail, assault, attack, billingsgate, child abuse, child neglect, cruelty, curse, cut, discourtesy, disrespect, do by, drug abuse, employment, exercise, expend, fracture, habit, handle, inhuman treatment, invective, kick around, lash out, low blow, mistreatment, persecution, rail, revile, round, scurrility, slang, snipe, stinger, substance abuse, take in vain, treat, usage, use, use, utilisation, utilization, vilify, vitriol, vituperate, vituperation
|
|
Try our:
Scrabble Word Finder
Scrabble Cheat
Words With Friends Cheat
Hanging With Friends Cheat
Scramble With Friends Cheat
Ruzzle Cheat
Related Resources:
animals starting with k
animals begin with j
|
