Result from Foreign Dictionaries (3 entries found)

From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]: Abuse \A*buse"\, 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. [1913 Webster] This principle (if one may so abuse the word) shoots rapidly into popularity. --Froude. [1913 Webster] 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. [1913 Webster] 3. To revile; to reproach coarsely; to disparage. [1913 Webster] The . . . tellers of news abused the general. --Macaulay. [1913 Webster] 4. To dishonor. "Shall flight abuse your name?" --Shak. [1913 Webster] 5. To violate; to ravish. --Spenser. [1913 Webster] 6. To deceive; to impose on. [Obs.] [1913 Webster] Their eyes red and staring, cozened with a moist cloud, and abused by a double object. --Jer. Taylor. [1913 Webster] Syn: To maltreat; injure; revile; reproach; vilify; vituperate; asperse; traduce; malign. [1913 Webster] From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]: Abuse \A*buse"\, 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. [1913 Webster] Liberty may be endangered by the abuses of liberty, as well as by the abuses of power. --Madison. [1913 Webster] 2. Physical ill treatment; injury. "Rejoice . . . at the abuse of Falstaff." --Shak. [1913 Webster] 3. A corrupt practice or custom; offense; crime; fault; as, the abuses in the civil service. [1913 Webster] Abuse after disappeared without a struggle.. --Macaulay. [1913 Webster] 4. Vituperative words; coarse, insulting speech; abusive language; virulent condemnation; reviling. [1913 Webster] The two parties, after exchanging a good deal of abuse, came to blows. --Macaulay. [1913 Webster] 5. Violation; rape; as, abuse of a female child. [Obs.] [1913 Webster] Or is it some abuse, and no such thing? --Shak. [1913 Webster] {Abuse of distress} (Law), a wrongful using of an animal or chattel distrained, by the distrainer. [1913 Webster] 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. [1913 Webster] From WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006) [wn]: abuse n 1: cruel or inhumane treatment; "the child showed signs of physical abuse" [syn: {maltreatment}, {ill-treatment}, {ill-usage}, {abuse}] 2: 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" [syn: {abuse}, {insult}, {revilement}, {contumely}, {vilification}] 3: improper or excessive use; "alcohol abuse"; "the abuse of public funds" [syn: {misuse}, {abuse}] v 1: treat badly; "This boss abuses his workers"; "She is always stepping on others to get ahead" [syn: {mistreat}, {maltreat}, {abuse}, {ill-use}, {step}, {ill-treat}] 2: 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" [syn: {pervert}, {misuse}, {abuse}] 3: use foul or abusive language towards; "The actress abused the policeman who gave her a parking ticket"; "The angry mother shouted at the teacher" [syn: {abuse}, {clapperclaw}, {blackguard}, {shout}] 4: use wrongly or improperly or excessively; "Her husband often abuses alcohol"; "while she was pregnant, she abused drugs"