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sévices

abuse

noun seh-VEES Rare
People & Society Crime

Origin: Latin saevitia (cruelty, ferocity)

Also means

ill-treatment

Usage Note

Sévices is almost always used in the plural and refers to physical abuse or cruel ill-treatment, especially of a person in a vulnerable position. The phrase sévices corporels means bodily harm. It is a formal legal and journalistic term; in everyday speech maltraitance (abuse) is more common.

Examples

"La victime a subi des sévices pendant des années."

Natural Translation

The victim suffered abuse for years.

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