abusefuladj.

1612 W. Martyn Youths Instr. 96 Such an abusefull vse thereof [sc. dancing] serveth as a baude to an haughtie or to a wanton minde.

1642 Caval. Adv. to his Maj. 7 The abusefull termes he spoke.

a1691 Bp. T. Barlow Genuine Remains (1693) 397 He scurrilously Reviles the King and Parliament by the abuseful Names of Hereticks and Schismaticks.

1749 ‘A. Litten’ Cork Surgeon's Antidote 4 What..could provoke him to publish his last Letter, containing..his mean, abuseful Misrepresentation of the Adversary Candidates.

1791 Poet. Satire on Times 39 Critics be candid be not too abuseful, I will allow that in your place you're useful.

1823 in Jrnl. Brit. Stud. 20 (1981) 102 Is of Sober habits,—good disposition,—& In no wise addicted to swearing and abuseful conduct.

1854 T. H. Benton Thirty Years' View I. cx. 471/2 Wrongful and abuseful in its creation, this peripatetic committee of the Senate was equally so in its composition and object.

1928 H. L. McBain in C. A. Beard Whither Mankind vii. 156 Whether the instrument of the injunction in industrial controversies is generally useful or abuseful is largely a matter of conjecture.

1969 E. Segal tr. Plautus Braggart Soldier in Three Comedies 56 Useful things for enemies become abuseful things for you.

2005 W. McConville Contempl. Couplets 73 Inventions come and go. A few are useful while others, sad to say, are just abuseful.