What is the Latin word for maltreat?

The usual Latin words for “maltreat” are laedō, hostis. The right choice depends on the sense; see the distinctions below.

English → Latin

“maltreat” in Latin

laedōto strike, collide, hurt; to offend; to thwart hostisan enemy of the state, an enemy, a hostile, opponent, foe; the enemy

Riddle & Arnold A Copious and Critical English–Latin Lexicon, 1864

maltreat

aliquem nimis aspere tractare (to treat hardly, general term): laedere or injuste laedere aliquem (Cic., general term, to injure): alicui or in aliquem insultare; violare aliquem (to injure or damage): vim afferre alicui (to offer violence to): male aliquem mulcare, or simply mulcare aliquem (e.g., with staves and clubs, with blows). ☞ Male habere aliquem (e.g., hostem) is only = to disturb, harass.

Quick answer

What is the Latin word for maltreat?: The usual Latin words for “maltreat” are laedō, hostis. 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.