abuse

Definition from Wiktionary, a free dictionary

Contents 1 English 1.1 Etymology 1 1.1.1 Pronunciation 1.1.2 Noun 1.1.2.1 Synonyms 1.1.2.2 Derived terms 1.1.2.3 Translations 1.2 Etymology 2 1.2.1 Pronunciation 1.2.2 Verb 1.2.2.1 Synonyms 1.2.2.2 Derived terms 1.2.2.3 Related terms 1.2.2.4 Translations 1.3 Anagrams 2 French 2.1 Verb 2.2 Anagrams 3 Spanish 3.1 Verb

[edit] English

[edit] Etymology 1

From French or Old French abus, or Latin abusus.

[edit] Pronunciation

• (RP)
  • IPA: /əˈbjuːs/
  • SAMPA: /@"bju:s/
• (US)
  • enPR: əbyo͞os'
  • IPA: /əˈbjus/
  • SAMPA: /@"bjus/
  •  Audio (US)^{help, file}

[edit] Noun

abuse (plural abuses)

1. Improper treatment or usage; application to a wrong or bad purpose; misuse; perversion.
   • Liberty may be endangered by the abuses of liberty, as well as by the abuses of power.- James Madison
2. Physical or verbal maltreatment; injury.
3. Sexual assault; violation; rape.
4. An unjust, corrupt or wrongful practice or custom; offense; crime; fault.
5. Coarse, insulting speech; abusive language.
   • The two parties, after exchanging a good deal of abuse, came to blows. - Thomas Babington Macaulay

[edit] Synonyms

• invective
• contumely
• reproach
• scurrility
• insult
• opprobrium

[edit] Derived terms

• abusefully
• abuse of distress
• child abuse
• drug abuse
• self-abuse

[edit] Translations

[edit] Etymology 2

From French or Old French abuser, from Latin abusus, past participle stem of abuti, from ab- + uti "to use".

[edit] Pronunciation

• (RP)
  • IPA: /əˈbjuːz/
  • SAMPA: /@"bju:z</
• (US)
  • enPR: əbyo͞oz'
  • IPA: /əˈbjuz/
  • SAMPA: /@"bjuz/
  •  Audio (US)^{help, file}

[edit] Verb

to abuse (third-person singular simple present abuses, present participle abusing, simple past and past participle abused)

1. (transitive) To put to a wrong use; to misapply; to use improperly; to misuse; to use for a wrong purpose or end; to pervert; as, to abuse one's authority.
   • This principle (if one may so abuse the word) shoots rapidly into popularity. - James Anthony Froude
2. (transitive) To injure; to maltreat; to hurt; to treat with cruelty.
3. (transitive) To rape; to assault; to ravish; to violate.
4. (transitive) To attack with coarse language; to insult; to revile.
5. (transitive) (obsolete) To deceive; to trick; to impose on.

   Their eyes red and staring, cozened with a moist cloud, and abused by a double object. - Jeremy Taylor

[edit] Synonyms

• maltreat
• injure
• revile
• reproach
• vilify
• vituperate
• asperse
• traduce
• malign

See also Wikisaurus:offend

[edit] Derived terms

• abusable
• abusage
• abuser

[edit] Related terms

• abusive
• abusively
• abusiveness

[edit] Translations

• Spanish: abusar

[edit] Anagrams

• beaus

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[edit] French

[edit] Verb

abuse

1. First-person singular indicative present form of abuser.
2. Third-person singular indicative present form of abuser.
3. First-person singular subjunctive present form of abuser.
4. Third-person singular subjunctive present form of abuser.
5. Second-person singular imperative present form of abuser.

[edit] Anagrams

• aubes

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[edit] Spanish

[edit] Verb

abuse (infinitive abusar)

1. formal second-person singular (usted) imperative form of abusar.
2. first-person singular (yo) present subjunctive form of abusar.
3. formal second-person singular (usted) present subjunctive form of abusar.
4. third-person singular (él, ella, also used with usted^?) present subjunctive form of abusar.