Ma*lign" (?), a. [L. malignus,
for maligenus, i. e., of a bad kind or nature; malus
bad + the root of genus birth, race, kind: cf. F.
malin, masc., maligne, fem. See Malice,
Gender, and cf. Benign, Malignant.]
1. Having an evil disposition toward others;
harboring violent enmity; malevolent; malicious; spiteful; -- opposed
to benign.
Witchcraft may be by operation of malign
spirits.
Bacon.
2. Unfavorable; unpropitious; pernicious;
tending to injure; as, a malign aspect of planets.
3. Malignant; as, a malign
ulcer. [R.] Bacon.
Ma*lign", v. t. [imp. & p.
p. Maligned (?); p. pr. & vb. n.
Maligning.] [Cf. L. malignare. See Malign,
a.] To treat with malice; to show hatred
toward; to abuse; to wrong; to injure. [Obs.]
The people practice what mischiefs and villainies they
will against private men, whom they malign by stealing their
goods, or murdering them.
Spenser.
2. To speak great evil of; to traduce; to
defame; to slander; to vilify; to asperse.
To be envied and shot at; to be maligned
standing, and to be despised falling.
South.
Ma*lign", v. i. To entertain
malice. [Obs.]
