abuse

abuse · noun¹

1. Latin · derived fromabūsus“misused, using up”
2. Old French · derived fromabus“improper use”
3. Middle English · inherited fromabusen
4. English todayabuse

From Middle English abusen, then from either Old French abus (“improper use”), or from Latin abūsus (“misused, using up”), perfect active participle of abūtor (“make improper use of, consume, abuse”), from ab (“away”) + ūtor (“to use”). Equivalent to ab- + use.

abuse · verb²

1. Latin · derived fromabūsus“misused, using up”
2. Middle French · derived fromabuser
3. Middle English · inherited fromabusen
4. English todayabuse

From Middle English abusen, from Middle French abuser, from Latin abūsus (“misused, using up”), perfect active participle of abūtor (“to use up, misuse, consume”), from ab (“from, away from”) + ūtor (“to use”).

First known use, by meaning

• from around 1350 to 1470 Improper treatment or usage; application to a wrong or bad purpose; an unjust, corrupt or wrongful practice or custom.
• from mid-16th c. Misuse; improper use; perversion.
• mid-16th–mid-17th c. A delusion; an imposture; misrepresentation; deception.
• from mid-16th c. Coarse, insulting speech; abusive language; language that unjustly or angrily vilifies.
• from late 16th c. Catachresis.
• from late 16th c. Physical maltreatment; injury; cruel treatment.
• from late 16th c. Violation; defilement; rape; forcing of undesired sexual activity by one person on another, often on a repeated basis.
• from around 1350 to 1470. To put to a wrong use; to misapply; to use improperly; to use for a wrong purpose or end; to pervert