abuse

ABU'SE, verb transitive s as z. [Latin 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 Corinthians 7:31 . 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, noun 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, etc. 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.