abuse

I. noun Etymology: Middle English, from Middle French abus, from Latin abusus, from abuti to consume, from ab- + uti to use Date: 15th century 1. a corrupt practice or custom 2. improper or excessive use or treatment ; misuse <

drug abuse

> <

abuse of tranquilizers

> 3. obsolete a deceitful act ; deception 4. language that condemns or vilifies usually unjustly, intemperately, and angrily 5. physical maltreatment Synonyms: abuse, vituperation, invective, obloquy, billingsgate mean vehemently expressed condemnation or disapproval. abuse the most general term, usually implies the anger of the speaker and stresses the harshness of the language <

scathing verbal abuse

>. vituperation implies fluent and sustained abuse <

a torrent of vituperation

>. invective implies a comparable vehemence but suggests greater verbal and rhetorical skill and may apply to a public denunciation <

blistering political invective

>. obloquy suggests defamation and consequent shame and disgrace <

subjected to obloquy and derision

>. billingsgate implies practiced fluency and variety of profane or obscene abuse <

directed a stream of billingsgate at the cabdriver

>. II. transitive verb (abused; abusing) Date: 15th century 1. a. to put to a wrong or improper use <

abuse a privilege

> b. to use excessively <

abuse alcohol

>; also to use without medical justification <

abuseing painkillers

> 2. obsolete deceive 3. to use so as to injure or damage ; maltreat 4. to attack in words ; revile • abusable adjective • abuser noun