Using something in the wrong way or for the wrong purpose; treating something badly or incorrectly.
From Middle English 'misuse'—'mis' (badly) and 'use.' The prefix 'mis-' has been used in English since Old English to indicate incorrect or improper action.
The word 'misuse' became especially important in drug policy discussions in the 1900s—'prescription drug misuse' is now a major public health term, showing how language evolves to describe new societal problems.
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