Abuse, Maltreatment, Mistreatment, Persecution和Wrong

五个单词均有"虐待"或"滥用"的含义。其中，abuse为最常用，可指所有诽谤中伤或有害言词或行为，不管是否是故意，常用于滥用特权、权力、法律程序、毒品以及虐待儿童、妇女等，如A policeman abusing his authority by searching the house without a warrant. maltreatment 和mistreatment十分近义，均指有卑劣动机的行为。相比之下，mistreatment的虐待程度较maltreatment轻，且其不一定具有身体上的虐待或故意伤害；而maltreatment则通常以精神上的虐待为主。persecution多指因种族、宗教或信仰等原因而施加的迫害或虐待。wrong主要指在元正当理由或原因的情况下受到不公正或有害的待遇，或自己的权利受到侵犯。

Abuse: Abuse, the most general term in this groupm, covers all injurious use or treatment by word or act. It does not always connote a deliberate act.

Maltreatment: Mistreatment is thus more general than maltreatment and need not imply physical abuse or even the desire to harm.

Mistreatment: Maltreat, however, suggests harsher or more consciously cruel treatment than mistreatment, which can apply to acts whose chief effect is psychological rather than physical.

Persecution: Punishment or harassement usually of a severe nature on the basis of race, religion, or political opinion in one’s country or origin.

Wrong: Treat with injustice.