abuse

Meanings

1. 1
   noun

   cruel or violent treatment of a person or animal

   The child showed signs of physical abuse.

2. 2
   verb

   to treat a person or animal in a cruel or violent way

   He was arrested for abusing his employees.

3. 3
   noun

   the use of something in a wrong or harmful way

   Drug abuse is a serious health problem.

4. 4
   verb

   to use something wrongly or too much

   You have abused my generosity once too often.

5. 5
   noun

   rude and offensive words said to someone

   The fans shouted abuse at the referee.

From Middle English abusen, then from either Old French abus (“improper use”), or from Latin abūsus (“misused, using up”), perfect active participle of abūtor (“make improper use of, consume, abuse”), from ab (“away”) + ūtor (“to use”). Equivalent to ab- + use.

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