abuse

  1. Noun.  Improper treatment or usage; application to a wrong or bad purpose; misuse; perversion. (defdate, from 15th c) .
  2. Noun.  Physical or verbal maltreatment; injury.
  3. Noun.  Forcing of undesired sexual activity by one person on another.
  4. Noun.  An unjust, corrupt or wrongful practice or custom; offense; crime; fault.
  5. Noun.  Coarse, insulting speech; abusive language.
  6. Verb.  (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. (defdate, from early 15th c.) .
  7. Verb.  (transitive) To injure; to maltreat; to hurt; to treat with cruelty.
  8. Verb.  (transitive) To attack with coarse language; to insult; to revile.
  9. Verb.  (transitive) (obsolete) To deceive; to trick; to impose on.

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This entry was last updated on RefTopia from its source on 3/20/2012.