Merriam-Webster Collegiate Dictionary - abuse

 I. noun  Etymology: Middle English, from Middle French abus, from Latin abusus, from abuti to consume, from ab- + uti to use  Date: 15th century  1. a corrupt practice or custom  2. improper or excessive use or treatment ; misuse drug ~ ~ of tranquilizers  3. obsolete a deceitful act ; deception  4. language that condemns or vilifies usually unjustly, intemperately, and angrily  5. physical maltreatment Synonyms:  ~, vituperation, invective, obloquy, billingsgate mean vehemently expressed condemnation or disapproval. ~ the most general term, usually implies the anger of the speaker and stresses the harshness of the language scathing verbal ~. vituperation implies fluent and sustained ~ a torrent of vituperation. invective implies a comparable vehemence but suggests greater verbal and rhetorical skill and may apply to a public denunciation blistering political invective. obloquy suggests defamation and consequent shame and disgrace subjected to obloquy and derision. billingsgate implies practiced fluency and variety of profane or obscene ~ directed a stream of billingsgate at the cabdriver.  II. transitive verb  (~d; abusing)  Date: 15th century  1.  a. to put to a wrong or improper use ~ a privilege  b. to use excessively ~ alcohol; also to use without medical justification ~ing painkillers  2. obsolete deceive  3. to use so as to injure or damage ; maltreat  4. to attack in words ; revile  • abusable adjective  • ~r noun