malign
verb
- talk down, slander
adjective
No English definition recorded for this entry.
L338261 on Wikidata ↗Wiktionary
Pronunciation: /məˈlaɪn/
adj
Etymology: From Middle English maligne, from Old French maligne, from Latin malignus, from malus (“bad”) + genus (“sort, kind”). Compare benign.
- Evil or malignant in disposition, nature, intent or influence.
“Witchcraft may be by operation of malign spirits.”
“It may be true that such running is exceptional rather than normal; there are still innumerable checks of one kind or another, many of them, alas, directly or indirectly the result of engine failures; and bad coal has often a malign influence.”
- Malevolent.
“He was sure they [the stars] were arranged in some order which had a secret and malign significance.”
- Malignant.
“a malign ulcer”
“malign ulcers”
verb
Etymology: From Middle English maligne, from Old French maligne, from Latin malignus, from malus (“bad”) + genus (“sort, kind”). Compare benign.
- To make defamatory statements about; to slander or traduce.
“To be envied and shot at; to be maligned standing, and to be despised falling.”
“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.”
- To treat with malice; to show hatred toward; to abuse; to wrong.
“The people practice what mischiefs and villainies they will against private men, whom they malign by stealing their goods, or murdering them.”