abuser
UK: əˈbjuːzə | US: əˈbjuːzər
n. a person who uses something improperly or harmfully
n. a person who treats others cruelly or violently, especially habitually
abuser = abuse<misuse> + er<agent noun suffix>
- abuse (from Latin abūsus, past participle of abūti "to misuse," from ab- "away" + ūti "to use")
- ab-: "away, off" (implying deviation or excess)
- use: "to employ, utilize"
- -er: suffix denoting a person who performs an action (e.g., "teacher," "runner")
Etymology Origin:
The word abuser traces back to Latin abūsus, combining ab- (indicating misuse or excess) and ūti (to use). Over time, abuse evolved in English to mean "misuse" or "harmful treatment," with -er added to specify the actor. The term reflects a logical progression from the concept of "using wrongly" to "one who habitually mistreats."
The court sentenced the abuser to ten years in prison.
She confronted her childhood abuser during the trial.
Drug abusers often face severe health consequences.
The system failed to protect victims from their abusers.
He was labeled a power abuser after exploiting his authority.