abuse

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Related to abuse: Physical abuse, Emotional abuse, Spousal 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.

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

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

abuse

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

abuse

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

References in periodicals archive ?

Scientists have uncovered a rise in substance abuse among people in New York City neighborhoods affected by 9/11, which raises new questions about the public health effects of traumatic events such as disasters.

Stress and drug abuse

Although reluctant to make estimates now, County Auditor-Controller Tyler McCauley has previously indicated employee fraud, waste and abuse costs the county about $250 million annually.

COUNTY FRAUD EXPLODES $2 BILLION ANNUAL TAB FOR WORKER, PUBLIC ABUSE

These findings may not be generalizable to preadolescents and adolescents who are ineligible for Medicaid, the researcher notes, because poverty may increase a young woman's risk of abuse, criminal activity and early sexual initiation.

Young female Medicaid enrollees seeking reproductive health services are at risk of abuse, criminal activity

While giving virtually full credence to her allegations of physical abuse by her former husband, the article doesn't mention that after the divorce the father initially had custody of the children nearly half the time and was never accused of abusing them, or that Schockome defied numerous court orders and quit a high-paying job in an apparent attempt to avoid child support payments.

Parent trap: are false abuse charges a common tactic in child custody battles?

Embracing AAHSA's Quality First Initiative, the Hebrew Home at Riverdale established the nation's first long-term care--based elder abuse prevention and intervention program.

Sheltering the victims of elder abuse: a new role for long-term care facilities

The circumstances of abuse are known to be varied (McKee, 2004a) and may include financial or marital difficulties, lack of parenting skills or substance abuse, economic stresses or struggles with poverty and racism.

The curriculum: confronting neglect and abuse

Recent reports from the Dallas Morning News suggest that we are just seeing the tip of the iceberg and that many more high school athletes across the country will be implicated in steroid abuse in the years to come.

What athletic directors can do about the steroid abuse crisis

Strengths of this book include vivid descriptions of the wide spectrum of child abuse and the realities of the emotional struggles that caring professionals encounter with this population.

Twilight Children: Three Voices No One Heard Until a Therapist Listened

A lovely feature of the book is the way that the voices of the women who have been traumatized buy childhood sexual abuse are loudly heard throughout.

Karen A. Duncan, Healing from the Trauma of Childhood Sexual Abuse The Journey for Women

Unfortunately, prescription drug abuse is on the rise.

Prescription drugs: their use and abuse

This article, the second installment in this year's edition of Heads Up: Real News About Drugs and Your Body, will alert your students to the real dangers of inhalant abuse and explain to them why the smart choice is never to try inhalants--not even once.

Inhalants: a looming threat for all teens

At the time there were few, if any, elder abuse resources specifically for CPAs.