mishandle

From Middle English mishandlen, equivalent to mis- +‎ handle. Cognate with Saterland Frisian mishondelje, West Frisian mishandelje, Dutch mishandelen (“to mistreat”), German misshandeln (“to mistreat”).

• IPA^(key): /mɪsˈhændəl/

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mishandle (third-person singular simple present mishandles, present participle mishandling, simple past and past participle mishandled)

1. (transitive) To manipulate something roughly, causing physical damage.

   If you mishandle a fragile package, the contents may break.

   • 1962 October, “Talking of Trains: L.M.R. car-carrying success”, in Modern Railways, page 224:

     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 been mishandled during its running-in period; […] .

2. (transitive) To deal with a situation incorrectly or ineffectively; to make a mistake in handling a situation.

   The prime minister was accused of mishandling the diplomatic crisis.

   • 1962 November, “Talking of Trains: The one-day strike”, in Modern Railways, page 291:

     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. are mishandling the human relations involved.

   • 2009 August 22, Nicholas Kristof, “Food for the Soul”, in The 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”, in The New York Times‎^[2]:

     Mr. Trump faces 31 counts of violating the Espionage Act, which makes it a crime to mishandle national security secrets.

• (manipulate roughly): misuse, abuse, handle roughly, handle incorrectly, maul.
• (handle a situation incorrectly): mismanage

mishandle (countable and uncountable, plural mishandles)

1. Rough manipulation which causes physical damage.
2. Ineffective or incorrect deal.
3. Improper, wrong, or bad usage or treatment; abuse.

• shieldman

From Middle Low German mishandelen.

• IPA^(key): [ˈmisˌhanˀlə]

mishandle (imperative mishandl, infinitive at mishandle, present tense mishandler, past tense mishandlede, perfect tense mishandlet)

1. to abuse, mistreat, maltreat

   Synonym: maltraktere

• mishandler
• mishandling

• “mishandle” in Den Danske Ordbog

From Middle Low German mishandelen.

mishandle (imperative mishandl or mishandle, present tense mishandler, simple past and past participle mishandla or mishandlet)

1. to maltreat or mistreat

• mishandling

• “mishandle” in The Bokmål Dictionary.