malign

English

Etymology

From Old French maligne, from Latin malignus, from malus (“bad”) + genus (“sort, kind”). Compare benign.

Pronunciation

• enPR: mə-līn', IPA^(key): /məˈlaɪn/

• Audio (US):

  (file)

Adjective

malign (comparative more malign, superlative most malign)

1. Evil or malignant in disposition, nature, intent or influence.
   • (Can we date this quote by Francis Bacon and provide title, author’s full name, and other details?)

     Witchcraft may be by operation of malign spirits.

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.

3. (oncology) Malignant.

   a malign ulcer

   (Can we find and add a quotation of Francis Bacon to this entry?)

Antonyms

• benign

Related terms

• malignant

Translations

evil or malignant

• Finnish: paha (fi)
• German: böse (de), böswillig (de), übel (de), schlimm (de), schlecht (de)
• (deprecated template usage) {{trans-mid}}
• Portuguese: maligno (pt) m

malevolent

• Finnish: pahantahtoinen (fi)
• (deprecated template usage) {{trans-mid}}
• German: böse (de), bösartig (de), böswillig (de), arglistig (de), grausam (de), übelwollend, schädlich (de), unheilvoll (de), verderblich (de), niederträchtig (de), heimtückisch (de)

oncology: malignant

• Finnish: pahanlaatuinen (fi)
• (deprecated template usage) {{trans-mid}}
• German: maligne (de), bösartig (de)
• Slovak: zhubný (sk)

Verb

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

1. (transitive) To make defamatory statements about; to slander or traduce.
   • 2018 November 18, Phil McNulty, “England 2 - 1 Croatia”, in BBC Sport‎^[1]:

     The obvious joy of England's players and supporters after that dramatic finale was another indicator that the Uefa Nations League, mocked and maligned at its inception, is capturing the public's imagination.

   • (Can we date this quote by South and provide title, author’s full name, and other details?)

     To be envied and shot at; to be maligned standing, and to be despised falling.

2. (transitive, archaic) To treat with malice; to show hatred toward; to abuse; to wrong.
   • (Can we date this quote by Spenser and provide title, author’s full name, and other details?)

     The people practice what mischiefs and villainies they will against private men, whom they malign by stealing their goods, or murdering them.

Synonyms

• See also Thesaurus:defame

Translations

slander or traduce; to make defamatory statements about

• French: vilipender (fr), injurier (fr)
• (deprecated template usage) {{trans-mid}}
• German: schlechtmachen (de), schlecht machen, lästern (de), verleumden (de), Übles nachsagen
• Latin: diffāmō

Anagrams

• Gilman, laming, lingam

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Norwegian Bokmål

Etymology

From Latin malignus

Adjective

malign (masculine and feminine malign, neuter malignt, definite singular and plural maligne)

1. (medicine) malignant

References

• “malign” in The Bokmål Dictionary.
• “malign” in Det Norske Akademis ordbok (NAOB).

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Norwegian Nynorsk

Etymology

From Latin malignus

Adjective

malign (neuter malignt, definite singular and plural maligne)

1. (medicine) malignant