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KJV Dictionary / A / abuse

KJV Dictionary Definition: abuse

abuse

ABU'SE, v.t. s as z. L. abutor, abusus of ab and utor, to use; Gr. to accustom. See Use.

1. To use ill; to maltreat; to misuse; to use with bad motives or to wrong purposes; as, to abuse rights or privileges.

They that use this world as not abusing it. 1Cor. vii.

2. To violate; to defile by improper sexual intercourse.

3. To deceive; to impose on.

Nor be with all these tempting words abused.

4. To treat rudely, or with reproachful language; to revile.

He mocked and abused them shamefully.

5. To pervert the meaning of; to misapply; as to abuse words.

ABU'SE, n. Ill use; improper treatment or employment; application to a wrong purpose; as an abuse of our natural powers; an abuse of civil rights, or of religious privileges; abuse of advantages, &c.

Liberty may be endangered by the abuses of liberty, as well as by the abuses of power.

2. A corrupt practice or custom, as the abuses of government.

3. Rude speech; reproachful language addressed to a person; contumely; reviling words.

4. Seduction.

After the abuse he forsook me.

5. Perversion of meaning; improper use or application; as an abuse of words.

abused

ABU'SED, pp. s as z. Ill-used; used to a bad purpose; treated with rude language; misemployed; perverted to bad or wrong ends; deceived; defiled; violated.

abuseful

ABU'SEFUL, a. Using or practicing abuse; abusive. Not used.

abuser

ABU'SER, n. s as z. One who abuses, in speech or behavior; one that deceives; a ravisher; a sodomite. 1Cor. vi.

abusing

ABU'SING, ppr. s as z. Using ill; employing to bad purposes; deceiving; violating the person; perverting.

abusion

ABU'SION, n. abu'zhon. Abuse; evil or corrupt usage; reproach. Little used.

abusive

ABU'SIVE, a.

1. Practicing abuse; offering harsh words, or ill treatment; as an abusive author; an abusive fellow.

2. Containing abuse, or that is the instrument of abuse, as abusive words; rude; reproachful. In the sense of deceitful, as an abusive treaty. Little used.

abusively

ABU'SIVELY, adv. In an abusive manner; rudely; reproachfully.

abusiveness

ABU'SIVENESS, n. Ill-usage; the quality of being abusive; rudeness of language, or violence to the person.

Definitions from Webster's American Dictionary of the English Language, 1828.
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