Part 6774

<hw>Ma*le"ate</hw> <tt>(?)</tt>, <tt>n.</tt> <def>A salt of maleic acid.</def>

<h1>Malebranchism</h1> <Xpage=886>

<hw>Male*branch"ism</hw> <tt>(?)</tt>, <tt>n.</tt> <def>The philosophical system of Malebranche, an eminent French metaphysician. The fundamental doctrine of his system is that the mind can not have knowledge of anything external to itself except in its relation to God.</def>

<hr> <page="887"> Page 887<p>

<h1>Maleconformation</h1> <Xpage=887>

<hw>Male*con`for*ma"tion</hw> <tt>(?)</tt>, <tt>n.</tt> <def>Malconformation.</def>

<h1>Malecontent</h1> <Xpage=887>

<hw>Male"con*tent`</hw> <tt>(?)</tt>, <tt>a.</tt> <def>Malcontent.</def>

<h1>Maledicency</h1> <Xpage=887>

<hw>Mal`e*di"cen*cy</hw> <tt>(?)</tt>, <tt>n.</tt> <ety>[L. <ets>maledicentia</ets>. See <er>Maledicent</er>.]</ety> <def>Evil speaking.</def> <mark>[Obs.]</mark>

<i>Atterbury.</i>

<h1>Maledicent</h1> <Xpage=887>

<hw>Mal`e*di"cent</hw> <tt>(?)</tt>, <tt>a.</tt> <ety>[L. <ets>maledicens</ets>, p. pr. of <ets>maledicere</ets> to speak ill; <ets>male</ets> ill + <ets>dicere</ets> to say, speak. See <er>Malice</er>, and <er>Diction</er>.]</ety> <def>Speaking reproachfully; slanderous.</def> <mark>[Obs.]</mark>

<i>Sir E. Sandys.</i>

<h1>Maledict</h1> <Xpage=887>

<hw>Mal"e*dict</hw> <tt>(?)</tt>, <tt>a.</tt> <ety>[L. <ets>maledictus</ets>, p. p. of <ets>maledicere</ets>.]</ety> <def>Accursed; abominable.</def> <mark>[R.]</mark>

<h1>Malediction</h1> <Xpage=887>

<hw>Mal`e*dic"tion</hw>, <tt>n.</tt> <ety>[L. <ets>maledictio</ets>: cf. F. <ets>mal\'82diction</ets>. See <er>Maledicent</er>.]</ety> <def>A proclaiming of evil against some one; a cursing; imprecation; a curse or execration; -- opposed to <i>benediction</i>.</def>

<blockquote>No <b>malediction</b> falls from his tongue. <i>Longfellow.</i></blockquote>

<syn>Syn. -- Cursing; curse; execration; imprecation; denunciation; anathema.</syn> <usage> -- <er>Malediction</er>, <er>Curse</er>, <er>Imprecation</er>, <er>Execration</er>. <i>Malediction</i> is the most general term, denoting bitter reproach, or wishes and predictions of evil. <i>Curse</i> implies the desire or threat of evil, declared upon oath or in the most solemn manner. <i>Imprecation</i> is literally the praying down of evil upon a person. <i>Execration</i> is literally a putting under the ban of excommunication, a curse which excludes from the kingdom of God. In ordinary usage, the last three words describe profane swearing, <i>execration</i> being the strongest.</usage>

<h1>Malefaction</h1> <Xpage=887>

<hw>Mal`e*fac"tion</hw> <tt>(?)</tt>, <tt>n.</tt> <ety>[See <er>Malefactor</er>.]</ety> <def>A crime; an offense; an evil deed.</def> <mark>[R.]</mark>

<i>Shak.</i>

<h1>Malefactor</h1> <Xpage=887>

<hw>Mal`e*fac"tor</hw> <tt>(?)</tt>, <tt>n.</tt> <ety>[L., fr. <ets>malefacere</ets> to do evil; <ets>male</ets> ill, evil + <ets>facere</ets> to do. See <er>Malice</er>, and <er>Fact</er>.]</ety> <p><b>1.</b> <def>An evil doer; one who commits a crime; one subject to public prosecution and punishment; a criminal.</def>

<p><b>2.</b> <def>One who does wrong by injuring another, although not a criminal.</def> <mark>[Obs.]</mark>

<i>H. Brooke. Fuller.</i>

<syn>Syn. -- Evil doer; criminal; culprit; felon; convict.</syn>