English Meaning & Definitions
To treat someone or something cruelly, violently, or improperly.
- โAnimal rescue groups work tirelessly to protect pets that owners neglect or maltreat.โ
- โThe historical documents were fragile and easily damaged if handlers maltreated them.โ
Comprehensive Thesaurus Breakdown
Compare formal, informal, literary synonyms and register nuances for โmaltreatโ.
Derived from the 17th-century French word 'maltraiter', combining 'mal-' (meaning 'bad' or 'ill', from Latin 'male') and 'traiter' (meaning 'to treat', from Latin 'tractare'). Literally translated, it means to treat badly.
Think of 'mal' (bad, as in malicious) plus 'treat' (how you behave toward someone)โto treat someone badly.
Frequently Asked Questions About โmaltreatโ
1. What is the meaning of โmaltreatโ in English?
In English, maltreat (verb) is defined as: โTo treat someone or something cruelly, violently, or improperly.โ.
2. How do you use โmaltreatโ in a sentence?
โAnimal rescue groups work tirelessly to protect pets that owners neglect or maltreat.โ
4. What is the etymology and word origin of โmaltreatโ?
Derived from the 17th-century French word 'maltraiter', combining 'mal-' (meaning 'bad' or 'ill', from Latin 'male') and 'traiter' (meaning 'to treat', from Latin 'tractare'). Literally translated, it means to treat badly.
๐ฌ๐งMore English Words to English
View all English words โThe base unit of time in the International System of Units (SI), equal to the duration of 9,192,631,770 periods of the radiation corresponding to the transition between the two hyperfine levels of the ground state of the caesium-133 atom.
A specific duration of time equal to one hour and forty-six minutes and twelve seconds.
The cardinal number equal to one thousand million (1,000,000,000), expressed in scientific notation as 10^9.
A specific duration of time equivalent to one hour and forty-six minutes.