I.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.
I. Lit.
(α).
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.—
(β).
With abl.: “sumus parati abuti tecum hoc otio,” to spend this leisure time with you, Cic. Rep. 1, 9 Creuz; so, “otio liberaliter,” Vell. 2, 105, 1: “omni tempore,” Cic. Verr. 2, 1, 9, § 25: “sole,” id. Att. 12, 6, 2: “studiis,” id. Fam. 9, 6, 5: “me abusum isto prooemio,” id. Att. 16, 6, 4 al.: abuti aliquā re ad aliquid, to make use of for any purpose, to take advantage of: “abuti sagacitate canum ad utilitatem nostram,” id. N. D. 2, 60, 151; cf. id. Lig. 1, 1; id. Mil. 2, 6.—Hence,
II. 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.—
B. 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.
