abuse

Abuse

Everything that is contrary to good order established by usage. Departure from reasonable use; immoderate or improper use. Physical or mental maltreatment. Misuse. Deception.

To wrong in speech, reproach coarsely, disparage, revile, and malign.

abuse

(Corrupt practice), noun baseness, breach of trust, deviation from rectitude, dishonesty, distortion, errooeous use, excessive use, exploitation, fraudulency, ill usage, ill use, improper usage, improper use, jobbery, malfeasance, malversation, misapplication, misappropriation, misemployment, mishandling, mismanagement, misstatement, misusage, misuse, perversion, usus perversus, violation, want of principle, wrong use
Associated concepts: abuse of a mandate, abuse of a proceeddng, abuse of authority, abuse of discretion, abuse of executive authority, abuse of legal process, abuse of power, neglect
Foreign phrases: Ab abusu ad usum non valet consequennia.A conclusion as to the use of a thing from its abuse is invalid. Confirmat usum qui tollit abusum. He confirms a use who removes an abuse. Omnium rerum quarum usus est, potest esse abusus, virtute sola excepta. There may be an abuse of everything of which there is a use, virtue alone excepted.

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abuse

(Physical misuse), noun atrocity, bad treatment, damage, debasement, defilement, dishonor, dishonoring, hurt, ill treatment, ill usage, ill use, impairment, indecent assault, injury, maltreatment, mishandling, mistreatment, misusage, molestation, outrage, persecution, victimization, violation
Associated concepts: abuse of a child

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abuse

(Misuse), verb abuti, ill-use, injure, make excessive use of, make improper use of, maltreat, manhandle, misapply, misappropriate, misemploy, mishandle, mistreat, pervert, use improperly, use wrongly
Associated concepts: abuse of a minor

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abuse

(Victimize), verb injure, maltreat, manhandle, mistreat, molest, oppress

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abuse

(Violate), verb debauch, defile, degrade, harm, ill-use, persecute, pollute, profane, wrong

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See also: aspersion, atrocity, attack, badger, beat, contumely, criticism, damage, debauch, defamation, diatribe, dissipate, endanger, exploit, harm, imprecation, infliction, injury, injustice, insult, malign, maltreat, misapplication, misappropriation, mishandle, mismanage, mistreat, misusage, misuse, molest, molestation, obloquy, offend, oppression, persecute, perversion, pervert, provocation, rape, reproach, revilement, shame, strike, transgression, vilification, violation, wrong

ABUSE. Every thing which is contrary to good order established by usage. Merl. Rep. h.t. Among the civilians, abuse has another signification; which is the destruction of the substance of a thing in using it. For example, the borrower of wine or grain, abuses the article lent by using it, because he cannot enjoy it without consuming it. Leg ; El. Dr. Rom. Sec. 414. 416.