Definify.com
Webster 1913 Edition
Abuse
A-buse′
,Verb.
T.
[
imp. & p. p.
Abused
; p. pr. & vb. n.
Abusing
.] 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
; to make an excessive use of; abuse
inherited goldas, to
. abuse
one’s authorityThis 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 patience3.
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.
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 serviceAbuse
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? Shakespeare
Abuse of distress
(Law)
, a wrongful using of an animal or chattel distrained, by the distrainer.
Syn. – Invective; contumely; reproach; scurrility; insult; opprobrium.
–
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.
Webster 1828 Edition
Abuse
ABU'SE
,Verb.
T.
1.
To use ill; to maltreat; to misuse; to use with bad motives or to wrong purposes; as, to abuse rights or privileges.They that use this world as not abusing it. 1Cor. vii.
2.
To violate; to defile by improper sexual intercourse.3.
To deceive; to impose on.Nor be with all these tempting words abused.
4.
To treat rudely, or with reproachful language; to revile.He mocked and abused them shamefully.
5.
To pervert the meaning of; to misapply; as to abuse words.ABU'SE
,Noun.
Liberty may be endangered by the abuses of liberty, as well as by the abuses of power.
2.
A corrupt practice or custom, as the abuses of government.3.
Rude speech; reproachful language addressed to a person; contumely; reviling words.4.
Seduction.After the abuse he forsook me.
5.
Perversion of meaning; improper use or application; as an abuse of words.