mal·treat \(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·treaternoun • mal·treatmentnoun