English → Latin
“abuse” in Latin
abūtorto use up, exhaust, consume entirely; to waste, squander; to misuse, abuse; use improperly. (+ ablative)immodicusexcessive, beyond measure; immoderate, unrestrained, extravagantintemperānsunrestrained, intemperate; licentiousīnsolēnsunusual; contrary to custom or one’s own custom; arrogant, haughty, insolentincēdōto walk, stride, step, march (along); to walk or move … etc. with divine presence or attributes; to advance (move forwarcōnferōto bring or collect together, gather; unite, join, connect; to bring or place together or near, set in opposition, opposmaledīcōto slander, speak ill of; to curseūtorto use, make use of, employ; to enjoy, indulge in, take advantage of; to experience, undergo, encounterpervertōto overthrow; to subvert or corruptimmodestusunrestrained, excessive, shameless
The English word abuse itself goes back to Latin ab, through abūsus.
Riddle & Arnold A Copious and Critical English–Latin Lexicon, 1864
abuse v.
use IMPROP., aliqua re perverse uti or abuti: immodice, intemperanter, insolenter, insolenter et immodice abuti aliqua re (to exceed the limits of modesty or moderation in using anything; e.g., alicujus indulgentia, patientia. From the context, abuti aliqua re may do alone, but its real meaning is only to usecopiously). To abuse to or for anything, ad aliquid.
Abuse the person, aliqua abuti.
To rail at, convicium alicui facere; aliquem conviciis consectari, incessere; alicui maledicere; aliquem maledictis insectari; maledicta in aliquem dicere, conferre, conjicere; probris et maledictis aliquem vexare; maledictis or probris aliquem increpare; maledictis aliquem figere; contumeliosis verbis aliquem prosequi. To abuse anybody through thick and thin, omnibus maledictis aliquem vexare; omnia maledicta in aliquem conferre. To abuse anybody in his absence, alicui absenti maledicere; contumelioise dicere aliquid de aliquo absente; aliquem absentem dente maledico carpere.
abuse s.
the improper use of anything, *usus, or abusus, perversus (a perverse use): *usus, or abusus, immodestus, intemperans, insolens (a use exceeding the bounds of propriety. From the context abusus alone might do, though it means only the using up of anything).
Improper custom; mos pravus (against correct and established custom): quod contra jus fasque est (against human and divine laws). An abuse prevails, percrebrescit mos pravus (Tac., Ann., 15, 19, near the biginning); to remove abuses, *mores pravos or ea quae contra jus fasque sunt abolere.
Railing language, maledictum (any injurious word): convicium (any abusive word): probrum (any attack on another’s honor). To heap abuse on anybody, or load anybody with abuse, omnibus maledictis aliquem vexare; omnia maledicta in aliquem conferre.
Quick answer
- What is the Latin word for abuse?
- The usual Latin words for “abuse” are abūtor, immodicus, intemperāns; also īnsolēns, incēdō, cōnferō. The right choice depends on the sense; see the distinctions below.
Entry from J. E. Riddle & T. K. Arnold, A Copious and Critical English–Latin Lexicon (rev. C. Anthon, New York: Harper, 1864), digitised by Fergus J. P. Walsh, CC BY-SA 4.0; Latin markup adapted by latindictionary.co.