A person who treats another person or animal with cruelty or violence; someone who misuses something.
From Old French 'abuser,' derived from Latin 'abusus,' meaning 'misused.' The word entered English in the 1300s and can refer to mistreatment of people, animals, or substances, though it's most commonly used today for those who harm people.
The word 'abuser' becomes more powerful when you realize that abuse often happens in relationships of trust—family, partnerships, authority—which is why abuse is so psychologically damaging compared to random violence.
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