abusive
/əˈbjuːsɪv/uh-BYOO-siv
UK form converted from the US by rule · unchecked/əˈbjusɪv/uh-BYOO-siv
Meaninggiven to abuse
Common meaning: cruel or insulting
Tap a word part to explore
- abaway, off
- usto use; usefulLewis & Short, Latin Dictionary (1879), p. 1946 · scan
- iveadjective ending: tending to
‘away, off’ + ‘to use’ → abusive
Sources & notes
Meaning: “Meaning” is the sense that emerges from the word’s roots; “Common meaning” is today’s everyday sense. Both written by us.
Pronunciation
- UK IPA: converted from the US form by rule (unchecked). Respelling: generated.
- No UK recording; the speaker uses your device’s en-GB voice.
- US IPA: CMUdict (BSD-2), converted to IPA by rule. Respelling: generated.
- No US recording; the speaker uses your device’s en-US voice.
Origin: Formed in English from abuse + -ive.
Dictionary: Skeat (1898), ABUSE, p.5 · scan
Roots
- ūtor, ūsus; ūtilis Latin “to use; useful”
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