ill-use
verb (used with object)
to treat badly, unjustly, cruelly, etc.
had ill-used
-
past perfectof ill-use.past perfect
Used to express a completed action that took place before another specific past action occurred.
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
He sat silent for a while meditating, feeling always and most acutely that he had been ill-used,—never thinking for an instant that he had ill-used others.
From The Prime Minister by Anthony Trollope
On the way she had ill-used him she harped no more; his own solution of his difficulties had, indeed, broken that string.
From Tiny Luttrell by Ernest William Hornung
Dante, whom we all now agree to idolize, treated people even more roughly; he placed some of his acquaintances who had ill-used him in the very lowest circles of hell.
From Immortal Memories by Clement King Shorter
Then grew within her a feeling, which she could not analyse, that he had ill-used her.
From The American Senator by Anthony Trollope
If he laid any command upon her, she would execute it; but she would never cease to tell him that he had ill-used her.
From He Knew He Was Right by Anthony Trollope
