Etymology

maltreat

M3A1L1T1R1E1A1T1

Today it means: To treat badly, to abuse. Full definition →

First used 18th c.French maltraiter
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The story

  1. French · derived frommaltraiter
  2. English todaymaltreat

From mal- + treat, after French maltraiter.

First known use, by meaning

  • from 18th c. To treat badly, to abuse.

Etymology from Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.