ill-treat

American  

[il-treet] / ˈɪlˈtrit /

verb (used with object)

1. to treat badly; maltreat; abuse.

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ill-treat British  

verb

1. (tr) to behave cruelly or harshly towards; misuse; maltreat

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Other Word Forms

• ill-treatment noun

Etymology

Origin of ill-treat

First recorded in 1695–1705

Example Sentences

In these quotations, to vanquish foes and destroy enemies does not mean to ill-treat others in any way, or even to seek victory over them in a traditional sense.

From Washington Post • Mar. 11, 2019

What man would under-feed, ill-treat, or poorly care for a horse that he expected to serve him, in return, promptly and well?

From History of Cuba; or, Notes of a Traveller in the Tropics Being a Political, Historical, and Statistical Account of the Island, from its First Discovery to the Present Time by Ballou, Maturin Murray

Yet you are but a child, knowing neither good nor evil, and all they can say against you is that you are the child of your parents; that is why they ill-treat you!

From For the Right by Franzos, Karl Emil

A man would be a fool to ill-treat a woman, whose love or services were valuable to him, if at any moment of discontent she could leave him, perhaps for a rival.

From Aw-Aw-Tam Indian Nights Being the myths and legends of the Pimas of Arizona by Lloyd, J. William

"You can ill-treat him sufficiently without my assistance," said Mrs. Mellen, smiling; "I shall not help you, certainly."

From A Noble Woman by Stephens, Ann S. (Ann Sophia)