FromMiddle Englishmishandlen, equivalent tomis- +handle. Cognate withSaterland Frisianmishondelje,West Frisianmishandelje,Dutchmishandelen(“to mistreat”),Germanmisshandeln(“to mistreat”).
mishandle (third-person singular simple presentmishandles,present participlemishandling,simple past and past participlemishandled)
- (transitive) Tomanipulate something roughly, causingphysicaldamage.
If youmishandle a fragile package, the contents may break.
1962 October, “Talking of Trains: L.M.R. car-carrying success”, inModern Railways, page224:The obvious advantages of this method of new motor vehicle delivery over long distances,, which the L.M.R. says dealers and ultimate customers are beginning to appreciate, are all-weather reliability, arrival in mint condition and with only a very small mileage "on the clock", and the assurance that the car has not beenmishandled during its running-in period;[…].
- (transitive) Todeal with a situationincorrectly orineffectively; to make a mistake in handling a situation.
The prime minister was accused ofmishandling the diplomatic crisis.
1962 November, “Talking of Trains: The one-day strike”, inModern Railways, page291:Naturally, the wisdom of striking to remedy grievances was questioned; but there were few dissentients from the view that the Government and B.T.C. aremishandling the human relations involved.
2009 August 22, Nicholas Kristof, “Food for the Soul”, inThe New York Times[1]:On a summer visit back to the farm here where I grew up, I think I figured out the central problem with modern industrial agriculture. It’s not just that it produces unhealthy food,mishandles waste and overuses antibiotics in ways that harm us all.
2023 July 18, Charlie Savage, “Trump Documents Hearing Could Set Off Lengthy Fight Over Classified Evidence”, inThe New York Times[2]:Mr. Trump faces 31 counts of violating the Espionage Act, which makes it a crime tomishandle national security secrets.
mishandle (countable anduncountable,pluralmishandles)
- Roughmanipulation which causesphysicaldamage.
- Ineffective orincorrectdeal.
- Improper,wrong, orbadusage ortreatment;abuse.
FromMiddle Low Germanmishandelen.
mishandle (imperativemishandl,infinitiveatmishandle,present tensemishandler,past tensemishandlede,perfect tensemishandlet)
- toabuse,mistreat,maltreat
- Synonym:maltraktere
FromMiddle Low Germanmishandelen.
mishandle (imperativemishandlormishandle,present tensemishandler,simple past and past participlemishandlaormishandlet)
- tomaltreat ormistreat
