SuaviloquyToday’s word

ill-treat

Webster’s 1913 has no entry under this spelling.

Shades of meaning

Fernald has no entry of its own for ill-treat; he lists it under abuse.

Where he writes about it:

To persecute one is to ill-treat him for opinion's sake, commonly for religious belief; to oppress is generally for political or pecuniary motives. — from abuse