# mishandle
## English
### Etymology

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

### Pronunciation

* IPA: /mɪsˈhændəl/
* Audio (US):(file)

### Verb

mishandle (third-person singular simple present mishandles, present participle mishandling, simple past and past participle mishandled)
* (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; […] .
* (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: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:Mr. Trump faces 31 counts of violating the Espionage Act, which makes it a crime to mishandle national security secrets.

#### Synonyms

* (manipulate roughly): misuse, abuse, handle roughly, handle incorrectly
* (handle a situation incorrectly): mismanage

#### Translations
### Noun

mishandle (countable and uncountable, plural mishandles)
* Rough manipulation which causes physical damage.
* Ineffective or incorrect deal.
* Improper, wrong, or bad usage or treatment; abuse.

### Anagrams

* shieldman

## Danish
### Etymology

From Middle Low German mishandelen.

### Pronunciation

* IPA: [ˈmisˌhanˀlə]

### Verb

mishandle (imperative mishandl, infinitive at mishandle, present tense mishandler, past tense mishandlede, perfect tense mishandlet)
* to abuse, mistreat, maltreat
    Synonym: maltraktere

#### Conjugation

activepassive
present
mishandler
mishandles
past
mishandlede
mishandledes
infinitive
mishandle
mishandles
imperative
mishandl
participle
present
mishandlende
past
mishandlet (auxiliary verb have)
gerund
mishandlen :

#### Related terms

* mishandler
* mishandling

### References

* “mishandle” in Den Danske Ordbog

## Norwegian Bokmål
### Etymology

From Middle Low German mishandelen.

### Verb

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

#### Derived terms

* mishandling

### References

* “mishandle” in The Bokmål Dictionary.