Defn: Bad treatment; abuse. Spenser.
MISUSE
Mis*use", v. t. Etym: [F. mésuser. See Mis-, prefix from French, and
Use.]
1. To treat or use improperly; to use to a bad purpose; to misapply; as, to misuse one's talents. South. The sweet poison of misused wine. Milton.
2. To abuse; to treat ill. O, she misused me past the endurance of a block. Shak.
Syn.
— To maltreat; abuse; misemploy; misapply.
MISUSE
Mis*use", n.
1. Wrong use; misapplication; erroneous or improper use. Words little suspected for any such misuse. Locke.
2. Violence, or its effects. [Obs.] Shak.
MISUSEMENT
Mis*use"ment, n.
Defn: Misuse. [Obs.]