malign

English

Etymology

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

Pronunciation

  • enPR: mə-līn', IPA(key): /məˈlaɪn/
  • (file)
  • Rhymes: -aɪn

Adjective

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:
      Witchcraft may be by operation of malign spirits.
    • 1951 February, Cecil J. Allen, “British Locomotive Practice and Performance”, in Railway Magazine, page 119:
      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.
  2. Malevolent.
  3. (oncology) Malignant.
    a malign ulcer

Antonyms

Translations

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:
      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, 6th edition, volumes (please specify |volume=I to VI), London: [] J[ames] Bettenham, for Jonah Bowyer, [], published 1727, →OCLC:
      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; republished as A View of the State of Ireland [] (Ancient Irish Histories), Dublin: [] Society of Stationers, [] Hibernia Press, [] [b]y John Morrison, 1809, →OCLC:
      The people practice what mischiefs and villainies they will against private men, whom they malign by stealing their goods, or murdering them.

Synonyms

Translations

Anagrams

Middle English

Adjective

malign

  1. Alternative form of maligne

Norwegian Bokmål

Etymology

From Latin malignus.

Adjective

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

  1. (medicine) malignant

References

Norwegian Nynorsk

Etymology

From Latin malignus.

Adjective

malign (neuter malignt, definite singular and plural maligne)

  1. (medicine) malignant

Romanian

Alternative forms

Adjective

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

Declension

Swedish

Adjective

malign (not comparable)

  1. (medicine) malignant
    Synonym: elakartad
    Antonyms: benign, godartad
    malignt melanom
    malignant melanoma

Declension

Inflection of malign
Indefinite Positive Comparative Superlative2
Common singular malign
Neuter singular malignt
Plural maligna
Masculine plural3 maligne
Definite Positive Comparative Superlative
Masculine singular1 maligne
All maligna
1) Only used, optionally, to refer to things whose natural gender is masculine.
2) The indefinite superlative forms are only used in the predicative.
3) Dated or archaic

References

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