Etymology Map
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Abuse

3 stages from Latin to English.

Today it means to use wrongly; to treat cruelly

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

1
Stage 1 of 3
abusus
Latin · ancient
"misuse"
'ab-', away, plus 'uti', to use: using wrongly
2
Stage 2 of 3
abuser
Old French · medieval
"to misuse"
used of misusing church offices and property
3
Stage 3 of 3
abuse
English · 1400s
"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
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Read the full story

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.