Definitions
change the inherent purpose or function of something
Word origin
From Middle English abusen, then from either Old French abus (“improper use”), or from Latin abūsus (“misused, using up”), perfect active participle of abūtor (“make improper use of, consume, abuse”), from ab (“away”) + ūtor (“to use”). Equivalent to ab- + use.
Used in a sentence
“human rights abuses”
“All abuse, whether physical, verbal, psychological or sexual, is bad.”
“Dickens was careful to castigate abuses which were being reformed.”
Source: Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0
Used as a crossword answer1 curated clues
01“Mistreat”5 letters
Not quite right?
"Search similar patterns."
A____