c1450 Alphabet of Tales (1904) I. 99 (MED) Oþer metis sulde not hafe mor payn in inquiryng þan luste in abusyng.

c1530 Lett. on Supp. of Mon. (1843) 12 Hys [sc. Latimer's] mynde ys myche more agenst the abusyng off thynges then agenst the thynge hytt selfe.

1554 N. Dorcastor Doctr. Masse Bk. To Reader sig. A.iiii Let vs leaue the abusynge of Gods good creatures, and vse them to his honor & glory.

a1616 W. Shakespeare Merry Wives of Windsor (1623) i. iv. 5 Here will be an old abusing of Gods patience, and the Kings English. View more context for this quotation

1678 Spanish Hist. 24 The abusing of Money that I have been speaking of.

a1687 W. Petty Refl. Persons & Things in Ireland (1790) 147 Those..who had any hand in such ugly abusings of me.

1711 J. Strype Life M. Parker ii. xxii. 36 We have dishonored thee by and with the abusing of thy good Gifts.

1824 Baptist Mag. July 278/1 These were the things.., respecting the abusing of which, they are admonished to ‘repent.’

1861 Brit. Med. Jrnl. 14 Sept. 286/1 Wasting his talents in idle complaints and abusings.

1901 Biblical World 18 87 Any man who thinks..that the chief obligation set by Christianity is the abusing of the flesh..does not know what the ethics of the New Testament is.

1942 E. Welty Robber Bridegroom 67 The girl never complained a time, but took the beatings and the abusings with the tranquillity of an Indian savage.

2007 S. Palmeri Three Aspects of Reality on Earth b. vii. 164 Transgressions range from overt criminality to the abusing of people, abusing of authority, corruption, etc.

a1555 J. Philpot tr. C. S. Curione Def. Authority Christ's Church in R. Eden Exam. & Writings J. Philpot (1842) (modernized text) 419 Touch not, taste not, handle not, which all perish with the abusing of them.

1586 Earl of Leicester in R. S. Rait & A. I. Cameron King James's Secret (1927) v. 125 Take them for falce and abusing spyryttis, yf any such appere in what lykenes soever.

1594 L. Lewkenor tr. O. de la Marche Resolued Gentleman f. 12^v You shall flie from the territorie of Loue, whose Lorde is an abusing flatterer, whose pleasure is a secret baite, conteining vnder it nothing but gall and bitternesse.

1609 S. Daniel Civile Wares (rev. ed.) iv. lxxxv. 108 When-as th'illightned soule discouers cleere Th'abusing shewes of Sense.

1757 C. Lucas in C. Lucas & W. Oliver Lett. 20 Good Sir, if you be not answerable for the conduct of your abused, as you call your abusing, brethren; why your haughty embassy to Doctor Baylies.

1823 S. Turner Mod. Hist. Eng. III. ix. 281 An abusing irritability of temper, which increasing upon him as he became older, made his protectorate offensive to those who approached the court.

1862 C. E. Wilbour Trial Charles M. Jefferds 11 Q. Was it an abusing letter? A. I don't remember what I wrote in the letter.

1909 R. J. Rombauer Union Cause St. Louis viii. 233 Company F, Third Volunteers, was guarding the western gate when a crowd of rowdies, cursing and swearing, began hostile demonstrations by abusing shouts.

1934 D. Thomas Let. 15 Apr. (1987) 111 I wish I could see these passing men and women in the sun as the motes of virtues, this..abusing lout as the Spirit of Youth.

1986 India Today 31 July 61/3 Processionists shouted abusing slogans.

1998 Community Care 16 July 5/5 Barnardo's has stepped up demands for changes to child prostitution laws by calling for legislation to reflect that involved parties are not a prostitute, punter and pimp, but an abused child, a child sex offender and an abusing adult.

2010 L. Hanks & C. E. Zolla Trustee's Legal Comp. i. 18 You may need to initiate protective proceedings in court, such as a temporary restraining order (to remove an abusing caregiver, for example).