Maltreat

Pronunciation

• UK IPA: /malˈtɹiːt/

Origin

From - + treat, after French maltraiter.

Full definition of maltreat

Verb

1. To treat badly, to abuse. from 18th c.
• 1977, Alistair Horne, A Savage War of Peace, New York Review Books 2006, p. 217:he received a telegram from the prime minister ordering that on no account were Yacef and Zohra Drif to be maltreated in any way.

Related terms

• mistreat