[f. ABUSE v. + -ER1.]. One who abuses: hence,
1. One who uses improperly, misuses, misapplies or perverts; a perverter.
c. 1450. Moral Play, in Le Bibliophile, 1 May 1863, 55. An abuser of Justice hateth my syght.
1638. Wilkins, New World (1707), ix. 67. There being not any Absurdity … for which these Abusers of the Text will not find out an argument.
1746. J. Hervey, Medit. & Contempl. (1818), 42. God … may swear in his wrath, that such abusers of his long-suffering ‘shall never enter into his rest.’
1860. Westm. Rev. (N.S.), No. 35. 66. The abusers of power received a merited amount of censure.
† 2. One who perverts truth or abuses confidence; a deceiver or impostor. Obs.
1579. Tomson, Calvin’s Serm. Timothy, 826/2. All they which giue themselues to wickednesse … are false varlets & abusers, in pretending at this day the name of Christians.
1604. Shaks., Othello, I. ii. 78. I therefore apprehend and do attach thee, For an abuser of the World, a practiser Of Arts inhibited.
1614. Rowlands, Fooles Bolt. For so doth Sathan, soules abuser, First tempt to ill, then turne accuser.
1667. Denham, Sophy (J.). Next thou, the abuser of thy prince’s ear.
3. One who uses badly or injures; an ill-user, violator; one who seduces, a ravisher.
c. 1608. Fletcher, Faithf. Sheph., I. 230. Retire awhile Behind this Bush, till we have known that vile Abuser of young Maidens.
1611. Bible, 1 Cor. vi. 9. Nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselues with mankine.
1665. J. Spencer, Prodigies, 127 (T.). That day of vengeance, wherein God will destroy the murderers and abusers of his servants.
4. One who reviles, or decries; a reviler.
1836. Hor. Smith, Tin Trumpet, I. 9. Abuse, intemperate, excites our sympathies, not for the abuser but the abusee.
1861. Flor. Nightingale, Nursing, 53. I should be very glad if any of the abusers of tea would point out what to give to an English patient after a sleepless night, instead of tea.
