(verb) : ăb-ūtor, ūsus, 3
* To use up any thing, to use to the end, to consume entirely (utendo vel in usum consumere, Non. p. 76, 29); constr. in ante-class. period with acc., in class. per. with abl.
* Lit.
* With acc.: nos aurum abusos,Plaut. Bacch. 2, 3, 126; so, argentum,id. Pers. 2, 3, 10: qui abusus sum tantam rem patriam,id. Trin. 3, 2, 56: operam,Ter. And. prol. 5 Ruhnk.: meretricem,id. Phorm. 2, 3, 66: suam vim,Lucr. 5, 1032.
* In a bad sense, to misuse, to abuse: sapientiam tuam abusa est haec,Plaut. Poen. 5, 4, 29; so in the exordium of the first oration against Cat.: Quousque tandem abutere, Catilina, patientia nostra? will you abuse our patience? libertate, Cic. Verr. 2, 5, 43, § 113: intemperanter otio et litteris,id. Tusc. 1, 3, 6: iis festivitatibus insolentius,id. Or. 52, 176 al.: legibus ac majestate ad quaestum,id. Rosc. Am. 19, 54; cf. Cic. Verr. 2, 2, 25, § 61; id. N. D. 1, 23, 64 al.
* Esp., in rhet. (of words), to use improperly, Cic. Or. 27, 94; id. de Or. 3, 43, 169; Quint. 5, 10, 6 al.!*? Pass.: abusa,consumed,Plaut. As. 1, 3, 44; so also Varr.: utile utamur potius quam ab rege abutamur, ap. Prisc. p. 792 P., and Q. Hortensius, ib., abusis locis: abutendus,Suet. Galb. 14.

s. TLL