abuse

Definition

Improper treatment or usage; application to a wrong or bad purpose; an unjust, corrupt or wrongful practice or custom.

Etymology

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.

Example Sentences

• "human rights abuses"
• "All abuse, whether physical, verbal, psychological or sexual, is bad."
• "Dickens was careful to castigate abuses which were being reformed."