ill-use

[il-yooz, il-yoos]

verb (used with object)

ill-used, ill-using 

1. to treat badly, unjustly, cruelly, etc.

noun

1. Also ill-usage bad, unjust, or cruel treatment.

ill-use

verb

1. to use badly or cruelly; abuse; maltreat

noun

1. harsh or cruel treatment; abuse

Word History and Origins

Origin of ill-use¹

First recorded in 1835–45

Example Sentences

“I will not let them live for strangers to ill-use,” she thought—

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"She did not ill-use me. Indeed, I do not believe that she ever knew that I was there at all. Is that not peculiar?"

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“Yes, at once; so that he will never again have an opportunity to ill-use any one of you.”

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"Oh, probably because she can ill-use it to her heart's content."

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"They might ill-use him, and he's been ill-used more than enough already."

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