a. [a. Fr. abusif -ive:—L. abūsīv-us, f. abūsus: see ABUSE and -IVE. Some of the meanings are direct from L.] Characterized by abuse or abusing: hence
1. Wrongly used, perverted, misapplied, improper: in Rhetoric, catachrestic.
1583. Fulke, Def., vi. 253. You are driven to seek a silly shadow for it [sacrificial power] in the abusive acception and sounding of the English word ‘priest.’
1603. Florio, Montaigne (1632), I. xxii. 48. Notwithstanding this abusive custome, loyaltie in married women is highly regarded.
1651. Baxter, Inf. Bapt., 89. Therefore it is sinfull to prefer before it an abusive sence, wherein Scripture never useth the word.
1710. Shaftesbury, Charact., I. § 2 (1737), II. 192. [Thou] didst mock Heaven’s Countenance, and in abusive Likeness of the Immortals mad’st the Compound Man.
1859. Sir W. Hamilton, Lect. Metaph., II. xxxiii. 262. The Reproductive Imagination (or Conception, in the abusive language of the Scottish philosophers) is not a simple faculty.
2. Full of abuses; corrupt. arch.
1589. Nashe, Anat. Absurd., 5. The abusive enormities of these our times.
1628. Wither, Brit. Rememb., IV. 281. If our Lawyers will In their abusive wayes continue still.
1780. Burke, Sp. on Econ. Ref., Wks. 1842, I. 238. First … is the royal household. This establishment, in my opinion, is exceedingly abusive in its constitution.
1838. Hallam, Hist. Lit., I. I. iv. § 55. 299. The determination of Leo to persevere in defending all the abusive prerogatives of his see.
† 3. Deceitful, cheating. Obs.
1602. Daniell, Civ. Wars, IV. lxxxv. (1718), II. 136. When as th’ illighten’d Soul discovers clear Th’ abusive Shews of Sense.
1624. Bacon, Consid. on War with Spain, Wks. 1740, III. 515. Whatsoever is gained by an abusive treaty, ought to be restored in integrum.
1667. Decay of Chr. Piety, iv. § 3. 222. He dazles their eyes with the glorious, but abusive proposal of becoming like Gods.
† 4. Given to misusing, ill-using, perverting. Obs.
1652. J. Burroughes, Exp. Hosea, vii. 270. Most are abusive in their desires after, and use of the creature.
1669. Penn, No Cross, xiv. § 8, Wks. 1726, I. 351. The Fashions and Recreations now in Repute are very abusive of the End of Man’s Creation.
5. Employing or containing bad language or insult; scurrilous, reproachful.
1621. Howell, Lett. (1650), I. 62. Some years since, there was a very abusive satire in verse brought to our King…
1703. Pope, Jan. & May, 71. Abusive Nabal ow’d his forfeit life To the wise conduct of a prudent wife.
1710. in Somers’ Tracts, III. 1. The Subject is nice, the Age abusive, the Town full of Observers and Reviewers.
1865. Dickens, Our Mut. Friend, xv. 381. You’re an … abusive … bad old creature.
