malign

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

• enPR: mə-līn', IPA^(key): /məˈlaɪn/

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• Rhymes: -aɪn

malign (comparative more malign, superlative most malign)

1. Evil or malignant in disposition, nature, intent or influence.
   • 1631, Francis [Bacon], “(please specify |century=I to X)”, in Sylua Syluarum: Or A Naturall Historie. In Ten Centuries. […], 3rd edition, London: […] William Rawley; [p]rinted by J[ohn] H[aviland] for William Lee […], OCLC 1044372886:

     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

   • 1625, Francis [Bacon], “Of Seditions and Troubles”, in The Essayes […], 3rd edition, London: […] Iohn Haviland for Hanna Barret, OCLC 863521290:

     malign ulcers

• benign

• malignant

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:

     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.

   • 1692–1717, Robert South, Twelve Sermons Preached upon Several Occasions, volume (please specify |volume=I to VI), 6th edition, London: […] J[ames] Bettenham, for Jonah Bowyer, […], published 1727, OCLC 21766567:

     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.
   • 1596 (date written; published 1633)​, Edmund Spenser, A Vewe of the Present State of Irelande […], Dublin: […] Societie of Stationers, […], OCLC 606546850; republished as A View of the State of Ireland […] (Ancient Irish Histories), Dublin: […] Society of Stationers, […] Hibernia Press, […] [b]y John Morrison, 1809, OCLC 22906028:

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

• See also Thesaurus:defame

• Gilman, laming, lingam

malign

1. Alternative form of maligne

From Latin malignus.

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

1. (medicine) malignant

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

From Latin malignus.

malign (neuter malignt, definite singular and plural maligne)

1. (medicine) malignant

• malin (dated)

malign m or n (feminine singular malignă, masculine plural maligni, feminine and neuter plural maligne)

1. (medicine) malign

   Antonym: benign

2. (rare, dated) evil

   Synonym: răutăcios