maltreat
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mal·treat

transitive verb \ˌmal-ˈtrēt\

Definition of MALTREAT

: to treat cruelly or roughly : abuse
mal·treat·er \-ˈtrē-tər\ noun
mal·treat·ment \-ˈtrēt-mənt\ noun

Examples of MALTREAT

  1. <emotionally maltreated and neglected for years by her husband, she had long ago resigned herself to a loveless marriage>
  2. <if you maltreat the puppy, we will take it away immediately>

Origin of MALTREAT

part translation of French maltraiter, from Middle French, from mal- + traiter to treat, from Old French traitier — more at treat
First Known Use: 1708

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