Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary · 1913
Malign
Ma·lign′ (mȧ·līn′), 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.]