(ˈ)mal+ transitive verb
Etymology: French maltraiter, from Middle French, from mal badly + traiter to treat, handle, manage, from Latin tractare — more at mal- , treat
: to treat ill : treat roughly : abuse , mistreat , misuse
whenever women felt maltreated and humiliated — Theodor Reik
a machine that had already been maltreated — Bryan Morgan
• mal·treater noun
• mal·treatment noun