abuse

[ verb uh-byooz; noun uh-byoos ]
/ verb əˈbyuz; noun əˈbyus /

verb (used with object), a·bused, a·bus·ing.

noun

Idioms for abuse

    abuse oneself, to masturbate.

Origin of abuse

1400–50; (v.) late Middle English abusen < Middle French abuser, verbal derivative of abus < Latin abūsus misuse, wasting, equivalent to abūt(ī) to use up, misuse ( ab- ab- + ūtī to use) + -tus suffix of v. action; (noun) late Middle English abus < Middle French abus or Latin abūsus

ANTONYMS FOR abuse

3, 7 praise.

synonym study for abuse

7. Abuse, censure, invective all mean strongly expressed disapproval. Abuse implies an outburst of harsh and scathing words against another (often one who is defenseless): abuse directed against an opponent. Censure implies blame, adverse criticism, or hostile condemnation: severe censure of acts showing bad judgment. Invective applies to strong but formal denunciation in speech or print, often in the public interest: invective against graft.

OTHER WORDS FROM abuse

British Dictionary definitions for abusable

abuse

verb (əˈbjuːz) (tr)

noun (əˈbjuːs)

Derived forms of abuse

abuser, noun

Word Origin for abuse

c14 (vb): via Old French from Latin abūsus, past participle of abūtī to misuse, from ab- 1 + ūtī to use

Medical definitions for abusable

abuse
[ ə-byōōz ]

v.

n.

Other words from abuse

a•buser n.