abusage

English

Etymology

First appeared in the 16th century as a general synonym of abuse, but fell into disuse after just a couple of centuries. The word re-emerged with a new grammar-specific sense after Eric Partridge published a book on grammar titled Usage and Abusage in 1942.

Noun

abusage (countable and uncountable, plural abusages)

1. (obsolete) Abuse. [Attested from the mid 16^th century until the mid 17^th century.]
2. Improper or incorrect use of language. [First attested in the mid 20th century.]

   A stickler for the rules of grammar, Mrs. Walker cringes when she encounters any abusage by the students in her freshman English class.