Obs. [a. OFr. abusion, ad. L. abūsiōn-em, n. of action f. abūti, abūsus: see ABUSE v. Exceedingly common from 4 to 6; but not in Bible, 1611, and rare after.]
1. Misuse, misapplication, perversion.
c. 1450. Lonelich, Grail, xxx. 389. To putten so foul a thing in Abvcioun To so riche a thing with-outen Comparison.
1528. More, Heresyes, III. Wks. 1557, 245/1. I would not for my mynde witholde the profite that one good deuoute vnlerned ley man might take by the reading, not for the harme that an hundred heretikes would fall in by theyr own wilful abusion.
1549. Chaloner, trans. Erasmus, Moriæ Enc. What is madnesse else, savyng a general errour and abusion of the mynde?
1558. Kennedy, Compend. Tract., in Miscell. Wod. Soc. (1844), 152. To mak up thair housis be abusioun of the patrimony of the Kirk.
2. Perversion of the truth; deceit, deception, imposture; also an instance of such perversion or deception.
c. 1386. Chaucer, Man of Lawes T., 116. Many a subtyl resoun forth they leyden; They spekyn of magike, and of abusioun.
1485. Caxton, Chas. the Grete, 53. Leue the creaunce of thy god Mahon & of other ydolles, whyche ben but abusyon and decepcyon.
1542. Hall, Chron. (1809), 844. Indulgencies and Pardons graunted … to the Abusion of the people and the deceivyng of our Soules.
1596. Spenser, F. Q., II. xi. Foolish Delights and fond Abusions, Which doe that sence besiege with fond illusions.
1640. Yorke, Vnion of Honour, 48. This intoxication, and abusion of the World, was wonderfully encreased by the secret revolt of Sir Robert Clifford, Knight.
3. Rhet. Misapplication or perversion of terms, catachresis. (Cf. L. abūsio in Cicero and Quintil.)
1553. Wilson, Rhet., 93. Abusion, called of the Grecians Catachresis, is when for a proper certaine woorde we use that which is most nighe unto it.
1636. B. Jonson, Eng. Gram. (1692), I. xi. 680. Many Diminutives there are, which rather be abusions of Speech, than any proper English words.
4. Violation of law or right, outrage, wrong; anything opposed to propriety; bad or improper usage; corrupt or shameful fact or practice.
c. 1374. Chaucer, Troylus, IV. 991. And certes that were an abusion, That God shuld haue no perfyt clere weting More than we men.
a. 1420. Occleve, De Reg. Princ., 40. Fy! it is to grete an abusioun, To see a man, that is but wormes mete, Desire richesse & grete possessioun.
1482. Monk of Evesham (1869), 58. Grete bestys onnaturally schapyne … in a fowle damnable abusion compellyd hem to medylle with hem.
1557. More, Edward V. (1641), 72. Howbeit much of this great abusion might be amended.
1547. Homilies (1640), I. x. III. 76. Usurped power full of enormities, abusions, and blasphemies.
a. 1718. Penn, Tracts, Wks. 1726, I. 519. The Ancient Common Law of England … declares, That all Restraints of Jurors are Abusions of the Law.
5. Contemptuous or reproachful language; reviling, insult.
1382. Wyclif, Ps. xxxi. 18. Trecherous lippis, That speken aȝen the riȝtwis wickidnes, in pride and in abusioun [1611 contemptuously].
1529. Rastell, Pastyme, Hist. Brit. (1811), 292. With many sclaunderous wordes, to the great abusyon of all the audyence.
1553–87. Foxe, A. & M. (1596), 1018/1. I will leaue out Christes answere, least I should be thought ouer free and plaine in … uttering of abusions.
