abuse¹

Meanings

1. 1
   noun

   cruel or violent treatment of a person or animal

   The child showed signs of physical abuse.

2. 2
   noun

   the use of something in a wrong or harmful way

   Drug abuse is a serious health problem.

3. 3
   noun

   rude and offensive words said to someone

   The fans shouted abuse at the referee.

Appears in

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.

Topics

External links

• Google Images
• Cambridge Dictionary
• Wiktionary