abuse : Dictionary / Wörterbuch (BEOLINGUS, TU Chemnitz)

English Dictionary: abuse	by the DICT Development Group
3 results for abuse
From WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006) [wn]:
abuse n cruel or inhumane treatment; "the child showed signs of physical abuse" Synonym(s): maltreatment, ill-treatment, ill-usage, abuse a rude expression intended to offend or hurt; "when a student made a stupid mistake he spared them no abuse"; "they yelled insults at the visiting team" Synonym(s): abuse, insult, revilement, contumely, vilification improper or excessive use; "alcohol abuse"; "the abuse of public funds" Synonym(s): misuse, abuse v treat badly; "This boss abuses his workers"; "She is always stepping on others to get ahead" Synonym(s): mistreat, maltreat, abuse, ill-use, step, ill-treat change the inherent purpose or function of something; "Don't abuse the system"; "The director of the factory misused the funds intended for the health care of his workers" Synonym(s): pervert, misuse, abuse use foul or abusive language towards; "The actress abused the policeman who gave her a parking ticket"; "The angry mother shouted at the teacher" Synonym(s): abuse, clapperclaw, blackguard, shout use wrongly or improperly or excessively; "Her husband often abuses alcohol"; "while she was pregnant, she abused drugs"
From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) [web1913]:
Abuse \Abuse"\, n. [F. abus, L. abusus, fr. abuti. See {Abuse}, v. t.] 1. Improper treatment or use; application to a wrong or bad purpose; misuse; as, an abuse* of our natural powers; an abuse of civil rights, or of privileges or advantages; an abuse of language. Liberty may be endangered by the abuses of liberty, as well as by the abuses of power. --Madison. 2. Physical ill treatment; injury. [bd]Rejoice . . . at the abuse of Falstaff.[b8] --Shak. 3. A corrupt practice or custom; offense; crime; fault; as, the abuses in the civil service. Abuse after disappeared without a struggle.. --Macaulay. 4. Vituperative words; coarse, insulting speech; abusive language; virulent condemnation; reviling. The two parties, after exchanging a good deal of abuse, came to blows. --Macaulay. 5. Violation; rape; as, abuse of a female child. [Obs.] Or is it some abuse, and no such thing? --Shak. {Abuse of distress} (Law), a wrongful using of an animal or chattel distrained, by the distrainer. Syn: Invective; contumely; reproach; scurrility; insult; opprobrium. Usage: {Abuse}, {Invective}. Abuse is generally prompted by anger, and vented in harsh and unseemly words. It is more personal and coarse than invective. Abuse generally takes place in private quarrels; invective in writing or public discussions. Invective may be conveyed in refined language and dictated by indignation against what is blameworthy. --C. J. Smith.
From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) [web1913]:
Abuse \Abuse"\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Abused}; p. pr. & vb. n. {Abusing}.] [F. abuser; L. abusus, p. p. of abuti to abuse, misuse; ab + uti to use. See {Use}.] 1. To put to a wrong use; to misapply; to misuse; to put to a bad use; to use for a wrong purpose or end; to pervert; as, to abuse* inherited gold; to make an excessive use of; as, to abuse one's authority. This principle (if one may so abuse the word) shoots rapidly into popularity. --Froude. 2. To use ill; to maltreat; to act injuriously to; to punish or to tax excessively; to hurt; as, to abuse prisoners, to abuse one's powers, one's patience. 3. To revile; to reproach coarsely; to disparage. The . . . tellers of news abused the general. --Macaulay. 4. To dishonor. [bd]Shall flight abuse your name?[b8] --Shak. 5. To violate; to ravish. --Spenser. 6. To deceive; to impose on. [Obs.] Their eyes red and staring, cozened with a moist cloud, and abused by a double object. --Jer. Taylor. Syn: To maltreat; injure; revile; reproach; vilify; vituperate; asperse; traduce; malign.