英语小点心：滥用，虐待怎么说？

abuse\ə-ˈbyüs\

noun

1 : a corrupt practice or custom

2 : improper or excessive use or treatment : misuse <drug abuse>

3 obsolete : a deceitful act : deception

4 : language that condemns or vilifies usually unjustly, intemperately, and angrily

5 : physical maltreatment

Examples

He subjected his wife to physical and emotional abuse.

the buying of votes and other election abuses

She was subjected to every term of abuse her boss could think of.

Origin: Middle English, from Middle French abus, from Latin abusus, from abuti to consume, from ab- + uti to use.

First use: 15th century

Synonyms: billingsgate, fulmination, invective, obloquy, scurrility, vitriol, vituperation

Synonym discussion: abuse vituperation invective obloquy billingsgate mean vehemently expressed condemnation or disapproval. abuse, the most general term, usually implies the anger of the speaker and stresses the harshness of the language <scathing verbal abuse>. vituperation implies fluent and sustained abuse <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 abuse <directed a stream of billingsgate at the cabdriver>.

2

abuse\ə-ˈbyüz\

verb

: to treat (a person or animal) in a harsh or harmful way

: to use or treat (something) in a way that causes damage

: to use (something) wrongly

Full Definition

transitive verb

1 a : to put to a wrong or improper use <abuse a privilege>

b : to use excessively <abuse alcohol>; also : to use without medical justification <abusing painkillers>

2 obsolete : deceive

3 : to use so as to injure or damage : maltreat

4 : to attack in words : revile

Other forms: abused; abus·ing

abus·able \-ˈbyü-zə-bəl\ adjective

abus·er noun

Examples

He was accused of sexually abusing a child.

He abused his body with years of heavy drinking.

He had abused his first car by not taking care of it.

First use: 15th century

Synonyms: brutalize, bully, ill-treat, ill-use, kick around, maltreat, manhandle, mess over [slang], mishandle, mistreat, misuse, take apart

英语小点心：滥用，虐待怎么说？