From Middle English maligne, from Old French maligne, from Latin malignus, from malus (“bad”) + genus (“sort, kind”). Compare benign.
Meanings
Evil or malignant in disposition, nature, intent or influence.
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. 1951 February, Cecil J. Allen, “British Locomotive Practice and Performance”, in Railway Magazine, page 119:
Witchcraft may be by operation of malign spirits. 1627 (indicated as 1626), Francis [Bacon], “(please specify the page, or |century=I to X)”, in Sylua Syluarum: Or A Naturall Historie. In Ten Centuries. […], London: […] William Rawley […]; [p]rinted by J[ohn] H[aviland] for William Lee […], →OCLC:
Malevolent.
He was sure they [the stars] were arranged in some order which had a secret and malign significance. 1891, Ambrose Bierce, An Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge:
Malignant.
a malign ulcer
malign ulcers 1625, Francis [Bacon], “Of Seditions and Troubles”, in The Essayes […], 3rd edition, London: […] Iohn Haviland for Hanna Barret, →OCLC:
de maligne (oncology: malignant) · de bösartig (oncology: malignant) · cs špatný (evil or malignant) · ro malign (oncology: malignant) · cs maligní (oncology: malignant) · de bösartig (malevolent) · de schlimm (evil or malignant) · de arglistig (malevolent) · enm maligne (oncology: malignant) · cs zhoubný (oncology: malignant) · de schlecht (evil or malignant) · el κακόβουλος (malevolent) · de unheilvoll (malevolent) · de übel (evil or malignant) · el κακοήθης (evil or malignant) · de niederträchtig (malevolent) · la malignus (malevolent) · de böse (malevolent) · cs škodlivý (evil or malignant) · enm maligne (evil or malignant) · ro malign (evil or malignant) · sk zhubný (oncology: malignant) · de übelwollend (malevolent) · bg зловреден (malevolent) · la malignus (evil or malignant) · de böswillig (evil or malignant) · uk злоякісний (oncology: malignant) · de böse (evil or malignant) · pt maligno (evil or malignant) · fi paha (evil or malignant) · de böswillig (malevolent) · de schädlich (malevolent) · bg злокачествен (oncology: malignant) · bg зъл (evil or malignant) · de heimtückisch (malevolent) · de grausam (malevolent) · bg лош (evil or malignant) · de verderblich (malevolent) · fi pahanlaatuinen (oncology: malignant) · enm maligne (malevolent) · cs neblahý (evil or malignant) · fi pahantahtoinen (malevolent)
From Middle English maligne, from Old French maligne, from Latin malignus, from malus (“bad”) + genus (“sort, kind”). Compare benign.
Meanings
(transitive) To make defamatory statements about; to slander or traduce.
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. 2018 November 18, Phil McNulty, “England 2 - 1 Croatia”, in BBC Sport:
Yet, even as Democratic party leadership has decried this mass deportation plan and even as the bill maligns Democrats as victimizing Americans through its policy of “open borders,” 48 Democratic members of Congress voted for this GOP-backed bill. 2025 January 19, Heba Gowayed, “The Laken Riley Act exposes Democrats’ hypocrisy on immigration”, in The Guardian, →ISSN:
To be envied and shot at; to be maligned standing, and to be despised falling. 1692–1717, Robert South, Twelve Sermons Preached upon Several Occasions, volume (please specify |volume=I to VI), London:
(archaic, transitive) 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. 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:
fr vilipender (slander or traduce; to make defamatory statements about) · grc βλασφημέω (slander or traduce; to make defamatory statements about) · uk лихословити (slander or traduce; to make defamatory statements about) · de schlechtmachen (slander or traduce; to make defamatory statements about) · la diffāmō (slander or traduce; to make defamatory statements about) · de lästern (slander or traduce; to make defamatory statements about) · cs očerňovat (slander or traduce; to make defamatory statements about) · de Übles nachsagen (slander or traduce; to make defamatory statements about) · cs pomlouvat (slander or traduce; to make defamatory statements about) · enm malignen (slander or traduce; to make defamatory statements about) · ro defăima (slander or traduce; to make defamatory statements about) · de verleumden (slander or traduce; to make defamatory statements about) · fr injurier (slander or traduce; to make defamatory statements about) · es malignar (desus.) (slander or traduce; to make defamatory statements about) · cs špinit (slander or traduce; to make defamatory statements about) · bg злословя (slander or traduce; to make defamatory statements about)