Abuse

Abuse - (Webster's 1828 Dictionary)

ABU'SE, v.t. s as z. [L. abutor, abusus of ab and utor, to use; Gr. to accustom. See Use.]

1. To use ill; to maltreat; to misuse; to use with bad motives or to wrong purposes; as, to abuse rights or privileges.

They that use this world as not abusing it. 1 Cor 7.

2. To violate; to defile by improper sexual intercourse.

3. To deceive; to impose on.

Nor be with all these tempting words abused.

4. To treat rudely, or with reproachful language; to revile.

He mocked and abused them shamefully.

5. To pervert the meaning of; to misapply; as to abuse words.

ABU'SE, n. Ill use; improper treatment or employment; application to a wrong purpose; as an abuse of our natural powers; an abuse of civil rights, or of religious privileges; abuse of advantages, _c.

Liberty may be endangered by the abuses of liberty, as well as by the abuses of power.

2. A corrupt practice or custom, as the abuses of government.

3. Rude speech; reproachful language addressed to a person; contumely; reviling words.

4. Seduction.

After the abuse he forsook me.

5. Perversion of meaning; improper use or application; as an abuse of words.