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Dictionary


a•buse



Pronunciation: (
—v.u-byOOz';
—n.u-byOOs'), [key]
—v., a•bused, a•bus•ing,
—n.

—v.t.
1. to use wrongly or improperly; misuse: to abuse one's authority.
2. to treat in a harmful, injurious, or offensive way: to abuse a horse; to abuse one's eyesight.
3. to speak insultingly, harshly, and unjustly to or about; revile; malign.
4. to commit sexual assault upon.
5. Obs.to deceive or mislead.
6. abuse oneself, to masturbate.

—n.
1. wrong or improper use; misuse: the abuse of privileges.
2. harshly or coarsely insulting language: The officer heaped abuse on his men.
3. bad or improper treatment; maltreatment: The child was subjected to cruel abuse.
4. a corrupt or improper practice or custom: the abuses of a totalitarian regime.
5. rape or sexual assault.
6. Obs.deception.

Random House Unabridged Dictionary, Copyright © 1997, by Random House, Inc., on Infoplease.

abusageAbu Simbel
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