Other forms: mistreated, mistreating, mistreats
To mistreat is to treat somebody badly or cruelly. Mistreat an animal, mistreated in custody, allegations of mistreatment.
It covers neglect as well as violence, which is why it is the word used in law about animals and vulnerable people. It is a milder word than abuse and is often used where the case is not yet proved.
1verbmistreatTo treat somebody badly or cruelly.
“The report found that the old care home had mistreated several of its residents.”
mistreat is a harming.
Latin
tracto — to pull", "to manage
Old French
tretier
Anglo-Norman
treter
Middle English
treten
English
treat
English, today
mistreat
Built from
From mis- + treat. treat comes from Middle English treten, from Anglo-Norman treter, Old French tretier, traiter, from Latin tracto (“to pull", "to manage”), from the past participle stem of traho (“to draw", "to pull”).
Etymology from Wiktionary, CC BY-SA