English edit

Etymology edit

From mal- +‎ treat, after French maltraiter.

Pronunciation edit

Verb edit

maltreat (third-person singular simple present maltreats, present participle maltreating, simple past and past participle maltreated)

  1. To treat badly, to abuse. [from 18th c.]
    • 1977, Alistair Horne, A Savage War of Peace, New York: Review Books, published 2006, page 217:
      he received a telegram from the prime minister ordering that on no account were Yacef and Zohra Drif to be maltreated in any way.

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