Abuse

Abuse is the act of improper usage or treatment of a person or thing, often to unfairly or improperly gain benefit.^[1] Abuse can come in many forms, such as: physical or verbal maltreatment, injury, assault, violation, rape, unjust practices, crimes, or other types of aggression. Some sources describe abuse as "socially constructed", which means there may be more or less recognition of the suffering of a victim at different times and societies.^[2]

^ Abuse – Defined at Merriam-Webster Dictionary. Merriam-Webster, Incorporated. 2013 [Word first known to have been used in the 15th century]. Retrieved 28 December 2013. abuse [may be defined as the following]...to treat (a person or animal) in a harsh or harmful way...[or] to use or treat (something) in a way that causes damage [or] to use (something) wrongly
^ Doyle, Celia; Timms, Charles (2014). Child Neglect and Emotional Abuse: Understanding, Assessment and Response. Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage. p. 8. ISBN 9780857022301.

[1] Abuse – Defined at Merriam-Webster Dictionary. Merriam-Webster, Incorporated. 2013 [Word first known to have been used in the 15th century]. Retrieved 28 December 2013. abuse [may be defined as the following]...to treat (a person or animal) in a harsh or harmful way...[or] to use or treat (something) in a way that causes damage [or] to use (something) wrongly

[2] Doyle, Celia; Timms, Charles (2014). Child Neglect and Emotional Abuse: Understanding, Assessment and Response. Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage. p. 8. ISBN 9780857022301.

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