1.
2.
[syn: abused, ill-treated, maltreated, mistreated]
The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:
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]
WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006):
abused
adj 1: used improperly or excessively especially drugs; "an
abused substance"
2: subjected to cruel treatment; "an abused wife" [syn:
abused, ill-treated, maltreated, mistreated] [ant:
unabused]