Abusive — A*bu sive, a. [Cf. F. abusif, fr. L. abusivus.] 1. Wrongly used; perverted; misapplied. [1913 Webster] I am . . . necessitated to use the word Parliament improperly, according to the abusive acceptation thereof. Fuller. [1913 Webster] 2. Given to … The Collaborative International Dictionary of English
abusive — abusive, opprobrious, vituperative, contumelious, scurrilous apply chiefly to language or utterances and to persons as they employ such language: the words agree in meaning coarse, insulting, and contemptuous in character or utterance. Abusive… … New Dictionary of Synonyms
abusive — UK US /əˈbjuːsɪv/ adjective ► using rude and offensive words: »She was sacked for sending an abusive email to a colleague. »abusive calls/comments/language ► involving bad or wrong use of something or treatment of someone, especially for your own … Financial and business terms
Abusive — (lat.), s. u. Abusus … Pierer's Universal-Lexikon
Abusīve — (lat.), mißbräuchlich … Meyers Großes Konversations-Lexikon
abusive — (adj.) 1530s (implied in abusively), originally improper, from Fr. abusif, from L. abusivus, from abus , pp. stem of abuti (see ABUSE (Cf. abuse) (v.)). Meaning full of abuse is from 1580s. Abuseful was used 17c., and Shakespeare has abusious (… … Etymology dictionary
abusive — [adj] exhibiting unkind behavior or words calumniating, castigating, censorious, contumelious, defamatory, derisive, disparaging, insolent, insulting, invective, libelous, maligning, obloquious, offensive, opprobrious, reproachful, reviling, rude … New thesaurus
abusive — ► ADJECTIVE 1) extremely offensive and insulting. 2) involving cruelty and violence. DERIVATIVES abusively adverb abusiveness noun … English terms dictionary
abusive — [ə byo͞o′siv; ] also [, ə byo͞o′ziv] adj. [Fr abusif < L abusivus < abusus: see ABUSE] 1. involving or characterized by abuse or misuse; abusing; mistreating 2. coarse and insulting in language; scurrilous; harshly scolding abusively adv.… … English World dictionary
abusive — [[t]əbju͟ːsɪv[/t]] 1) ADJ GRADED Someone who is abusive behaves in a cruel and violent way towards other people. He became violent and abusive toward Ben s mother. ...her cruel and abusive husband. 2) ADJ GRADED Abusive language is extremely rude … English dictionary
