mistreatment

UK: ˌmɪsˈtriːtmənt | US: ˌmɪsˈtritmənt

Definition

  1. n. the act or instance of treating someone or something badly, unfairly, or cruelly.

Structure
mis <wrongly/badly>treat <handle/behave toward>ment <noun suffix>
Etymology

The word "mistreatment" combines three morphemes:

  1. "Mis-" (from Old English "mis-," meaning "wrongly" or "badly"), a prefix often used to negate or reverse the meaning of the root.
  2. "Treat" (from Latin "tractare," meaning "to handle" or "manage"), which evolved in Middle English to mean "behave toward" or "deal with."
  3. "-ment" (from Latin "-mentum"), a suffix forming nouns indicating an action or resulting state.

The logical progression is clear: "treat" (handle) + "mis-" (badly) = "mistreat" (handle badly), then adding "-ment" turns it into a noun denoting the action or result of such behavior.

Examples

  1. The investigation revealed systemic mistreatment of workers at the factory.

  2. Animal mistreatment is a serious offense under modern welfare laws.

  3. She filed a lawsuit alleging mistreatment by her employer.

  4. Historical records document the mistreatment of indigenous populations.

  5. Psychological mistreatment can leave deeper scars than physical abuse.