abuse

Where does the word "abuse" come from? It comes from Latin abusus, passing through Old French before entering English (1400s).

Abuse’s story begins in Latin: abusus meant “misuse.” 'ab-', away, plus 'uti', to use: using wrongly. By medieval, the word had taken hold in Old French as abuser. Used of misusing church offices and property. It reached English by 1400s as abuse. 'abuse' as insulting language dates from the 1500s; the verb is first recorded around 1430 in the Acts of the Parliament of Scotland. Today, abuse means to use wrongly; to treat cruelly.

1. Stage 1 · Latin · ancient abusus "misuse", 'ab-', away, plus 'uti', to use: using wrongly.
2. Stage 2 · Old French · medieval abuser "to misuse", used of misusing church offices and property.
3. Stage 3 · English · 1400s abuse "to misuse", 'abuse' as insulting language dates from the 1500s; the verb is first recorded around 1430 in the Acts of the Parliament of Scotland.