1  definition  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. 

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