3  definitions  found 
 
  From  Webster's  Revised  Unabridged  Dictionary  (1913)  [web1913]: 
 
  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. 
 
  This  principle  (if  one  may  so  abuse  the  word)  shoots 
  rapidly  into  popularity.  --Froude. 
 
  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. 
 
  3.  To  revile;  to  reproach  coarsely;  to  disparage. 
 
  The  .  .  .  tellers  of  news  abused  the  general. 
  --Macaulay. 
 
  4.  To  dishonor.  ``Shall  flight  abuse  your  name?''  --Shak. 
 
  5.  To  violate;  to  ravish.  --Spenser. 
 
  6.  To  deceive;  to  impose  on  [Obs.] 
 
  Their  eyes  red  and  staring,  cozened  with  a  moist 
  cloud,  and  abused  by  a  double  object.  --Jer.  Taylor. 
 
  Syn:  To  maltreat;  injure;  revile;  reproach;  vilify; 
  vituperate;  asperse;  traduce;  malign. 
 
  From  Webster's  Revised  Unabridged  Dictionary  (1913)  [web1913]: 
 
  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. 
 
  Liberty  may  be  endangered  by  the  abuses  of  liberty, 
  as  well  as  by  the  abuses  of  power.  --Madison. 
 
  2.  Physical  ill  treatment;  injury.  ``Rejoice  .  .  .  at  the 
  abuse  of  Falstaff.''  --Shak. 
 
  3.  A  corrupt  practice  or  custom;  offense;  crime;  fault;  as 
  the  abuses  in  the  civil  service. 
 
  Abuse  after  disappeared  without  a  struggle.. 
  --Macaulay. 
 
  4.  Vituperative  words  coarse,  insulting  speech;  abusive 
  language;  virulent  condemnation;  reviling. 
 
  The  two  parties,  after  exchanging  a  good  deal  of 
  abuse,  came  to  blows.  --Macaulay. 
 
  5.  Violation;  rape;  as  abuse  of  a  female  child.  [Obs.] 
 
  Or  is  it  some  abuse,  and  no  such  thing?  --Shak. 
 
  {Abuse  of  distress}  (Law),  a  wrongful  using  of  an  animal  or 
  chattel  distrained,  by  the  distrainer. 
 
  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. 
 
  From  WordNet  r  1.6  [wn]: 
 
  abuse 
  n  1:  cruel  or  inhumane  treatment  [syn:  {maltreatment},  {ill-treatment}, 
  {ill-usage}] 
  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:  {insult}, 
  {revilement},  {contumely}] 
  3:  improper  or  excessive  use  [syn:  {misuse}] 
  v  1:  treat  badly  [syn:  {mistreat},  {maltreat},  {ill-use},  {ill-treat}] 
  2:  change  the  inherent  purpose  or  function  of  something  [syn:  {pervert}, 
  {misuse}] 
  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:  {clapperclaw},  {blackguard}, 
  {shout}] 

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