malign

English

Etymology

Via French from Latin malignus, from malus (bad) + genus (sort, kind). Compare benign.

Pronunciation

• enPR: mə-līn', IPA: /məˈlaɪn/, SAMPA: /m@"laIn/

• Audio (US)

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Adjective

malign (comparative more malign, superlative most malign)

1. evil or malignant in disposition, nature, intent or influence.
2. malevolent.
   • 1891 - Ambrose Bierce, An Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge

     He was sure they [the stars] were arranged in some order which had a secret and malign significance.

Related terms

• malignant

Antonyms

• benign

Translations

evil or malignant

Finnish: paha (fi)

German: unheilvoll (de)

malevolent

Finnish: pahantahtoinen (fi)

German: böse, übelwollend

Verb

malign (third-person singular simple present maligns, present participle maligning, simple past and past participle maligned)

1. (transitive) To make defamatory statements about someone or something.

Synonyms

• See also Wikisaurus:defame

Anagrams

• laming
• lingam