malaprop 
malaprOp(inar!t.-prop), <i. |ln (illusion to Mrs. 
Mii/ii/nn/i, ii chariieler in Sheridan's play of 
" The Kivals," noted for her blunders in the use 
of words (< malapropos, q. v.).] Malapropos. 
[Rare.] 
Hut observe . . . the total absence of all inalaprop pio 
turesiiucness. "'' ijiiiiii-i'ii. Style, j. 
malapropism (mal'a-prop-izm), n, [< imilii- 
l> i-ti)> + -/.vwi.] 1. The act or habit of misap- 
plying words through mi ambition to use fine 
language. 2. A word so misapplied. 
The Kieldhead estate and the De Walclen estate were de- 
lightfully contusions a malapropiztn which rumour had 
not failed to repeat to Shirley. 
Charlotte Jlronte, Shirley, xvii. 
malapropos (mal-ap-ro-po'), a. and adv. [< 
iiHil- + apropos: see, apropos,] I. a. Inappro- 
priate; out of place; inapt; unseasonable: as, 
;i ni(ili>ropon remark. 
II. <t<lc. Unsuitably; unseasonably. 
Malapteruridae (nia-lap-te-rd'ri-de), n. pL 
[NL., < Miiliiiitcrnnis + -idw.] A family of ne- 
matognathous fishes. They are electric flshes in which 
"the electric organ extends over the whole body, but is 
thickest on the abdomen. It lies between two aponeurotic 
i Membranes below the skill, and consistsof rhomboidal cells 
which contain a rather MINI gelatinous substance. The 
electric nerve takes its origin from the spinal cord." The 
shock given ia great for the size of the flan. Three species 
arc known, the most familiar of which is Malapterurus elec- 
tricus of the Nile, which sometimes attains a length of 
four feet. 
Malapterurina (mu-lap'te-r^-ri'na), n. pi. 
[NL., < Malapterurus + -ina^.] In Gimther's 
classification, a group of Siluridai stenobranchia: 
with no rayed dorsal fin : same as the family 
Malap teruridai. 
malaptemrine (ma-lap-te-ro'rin), a. Of or 
pertaining to the Malapterurina; malapteru- 
roid. 
malapteruroid (ma-lap-te-ro'roid), a. and n. 
[< Malapterurus + -oid.]" I. a. Pertaining to 
the Malapterurida", or having their characters. 
II. n. A fish of the family Malapteruridae. 
Malapterurus (ma-lap-te-rO'rus), n. [NL. (La- 
c6pede, 1803), short for *Malacopterurus, < Or. 
/ta\aic6c,sott, T impAv, wing (fin), + oiyx^tail.] A 
genus of nematognathous catfishes, represent- 
Electric Catfish (Malapterurus ettctrtfui). 
ing the family Malapterurida;, with an adipose 
fin over the caudal region and no true dorsal fin ; 
the electric fishes. M. electricus inhabits the 
Nile and other African rivers. 
malar (ma'liir), a. and n. [< NL. mttlaris, < L. 
mala, the upper jaw, the cheek-bone, the cheek, 
< mandere, cnew: see mandible."] I. a. 1. Of or 
pertaining to the cheek or cheek-bone. 2. Of 
or pertaining to the zygoma ; zygomatic; jugal: 
as, the malar arch Malar bone, see II. Malar 
foramina. See foramen Malar point. See craniom- 
etry. 
II. n. A membrane bone or splint-bone of the 
side of the head of higher vertebrates, entering 
into the composition of the zygoma or zygo- 
matic arch, which connects the upper jaw or 
other part of the face with the squamosal or 
other parts about the ear; the jugal or jugal 
bone. In most animals it is a long and slender horizontal 
bone, in man a short and stout quadrangular bone, the 
cheek-bone, forming the prominence of the cheek, entering 
into the composition of the orbit of the eye, and articulat- 
ing not only with the temporal and superior maxillary, 
but also with the frontal and sphenoid. 
malardet, An obsolete form of mallard. 
malaria (ina-la'ri-ii), n. [= F. malaria, < It. 
mat' aria, bad air: mala, fern, pf malo, < L. mn- 
IHH, bad (see mal-, Mb'); aria, < L. aer, air: see 
air 1 .] 1. Air contaminated with some patho- 
genic substance from the soil; specifically, 
air impregnated with the poison producing in- 
termittent and remittent fever. 2. The dis- 
ease produced by the air thus poisoned. In a 
strict sense the word is a generic term designating inter- 
mittent and remittent fever and other affections, such as 
malarial neuralgia, due to the same cause. Malarial dis- 
eases in this sense prevail in all quarters of the globe ex- 
cept the coldest, and the infection of soil and air occurs 
in both uninhabited and populous regions. The disease is 
contracted by presence in the locality, and not from the 
sick, nor do the latter seem to transplant the infection to 
new places to which they may go. The disease may ap- 
parently be introduced into the body through water that 
is drunk as well as through the air. The development of 
the poison is favored by heat and moisture. Malarial dis- 
eases are apt to increase after the turning up of virgin 
soil. The poison seems to lie low in the atmosphere, but 
may be blown to adjacent heights. Besidesthc well-marked 
3591 
fevers, the malarial poison produces various and often Ill- 
marked perversions of the general health, such as neural- 
gia, neuritis, anemia, digestive disturbances, and alhumi- 
nurla. The anatomical effects of the malarial poison are 
enlargement of the spleen, sometimes excessive, darkening 
of the skin, and the presence ufa dark pigment in the bloiKl, 
in amorphous masses. There is found,moreover,in malari- 
al Moon a variety of peculiar living bodies which are sup- 
posed to be the various stages in the life-history of a sin- 
gle organism. This haa been called the I'lasmtidium ma- 
lance. All these forms of malaria are, as a rule, affected 
favorably by quinine, and to a leas degree by certain other 
drugs, notably arsenic. 
malarial (ma-la'ri-al), a. [< malaria + -<il.~\ 
Relating or pertaining to malaria; conin-et.il 
with or arising from malaria : as, malarial ca- 
chexia, disease, or fever; the malarial poison. 
Neuralgic affections . . . are common sequels of mala- 
rial poisoning. (fiidiii, Med. Diet., p. 916. 
Malarial fever. 8ee/*wri. 
malarialist (ma-la'ri-al-ist), n. [< malarial + 
-ist.] A student of malaria; one who studies 
the treatment of malarial disease. 
According as one is a sanitarian, a chemist, or a mala- 
rialist. Harper's Mag., LXIX. 441. 
malarian (ma-la'ri-an), a. [< malaria + an.'] 
Malarial ; malarious. [Rare.] 
A flat in nl n fin, i world of reed and ruah ! 
Tennyson, Lover's Tale, Iv. 
malarimaxillary (ma'lar-i-mak'si-la-ri), a. [< 
NL. malaris, malar, + maxillarts, maxillary.] Of 
or pertaining to the malar and the supramaxil- 
larybone: as, the malarimaxillary suture. Also 
Hialnmaxillary. 
malarious (ma-la'ri-us), a. [< malaria + -ous.] 
Characterized by or abounding with malaria; 
producing or communicating malarial disease: 
as, a malarious region or climate ; a malarious 
state of the atmosphere. 
A fever alley or a malarimu ditch. 
C. Kingslcy, Life (1878), II. 870. 
Attempts have been made, without success, to separate 
malarious poison from the gases generated by swamps, or 
from the air of malarious localities. Eneyc. Brit., XV. 820. 
malassimilation (mal-a-sim-i-la'shon), n. [< 
mal- + assimilation.] fiipathol., imperfect as- 
similation or nutrition; faulty digestion and 
appropriation of nutriment. 
malate (ma'lat), n. [< mal(ic) + -ate 1 .'] In 
fhem., any salt of malic acid. 
malaxt (ma'laks), v. t. [= F. malaxer = Pg. 
malaxar, < L. malaxare, < Gr. ftaMooeiv, soften, 
< /jAa/cdf, soft.] Same as malaxate. 
I directed one of my servants to apply an emplast. dla- 
chyl. cum gummi, malaxed with unguent dialtlueie. 
Wiseman, Surgery, 1. 9. 
malaxage (mal'ak-saj), n. [< malax + -age.] 
The operation of kneading and working the un- 
baked clay of which pottery is to be made. 
malaxate (mal'ak-sat), v. t. ; pret. and pp. mal- 
axated, ppr. malaxating. [< L. malaxatus, pp. 
of malaxare, soften: see malax.] To soften; 
knead to softness. 
malaxation (mal-ak-sa'shon), n. [= F. malax- 
ation, < LL. malaxatio(n-), 'a softening, < L. ma- 
laxare, soften : see malax, malaxate.] The act 
of malaxating or moistening and softening; 
the act of forming ingredients into a mass for 
pills or plasters. [Rare.] 
malaxator (mal'ak-sa-tor), n. [< NL.malaxator, 
<.ii. malaxare, soften: see malax, malaxate.] A 
name of many machines used for mixing various 
materials. Most of these machines for example, mills 
for grinding and tempering clay In brick-making, for mix- 
ing mortar, etc. have a rotating vertical shaft with ra- 
dial blade-like arms working in a cylindrical Inclosnre. 
They are often moved by horses, mules, or oxen attached 
to the end of a lever projecting horizontally from the up- 
per part of the shaft In many cases, however, other power 
is used. 
Malaxeae (ma-lak'se-e), . pi. [NL. (Lindley, 
1845), < Malaxis 4- -em.] A subtribe of plants 
of the natural order Orchidea;, the orchid fami- 
ly, belonging to the tribe Epidendrea>, and char- 
acterized by a terminal inflorescence and an- 
thers which are usually persistent, and either 
erect or bent forward. It embraces 2 genera, 
Malaxis and Microstylis, and about 46 species. 
Malaxis (ma-lak'sis), n. [NL., < Gr. ta/.ai-it, 
a softening, < /taldaoetv, soften : see malax.] A 
genus of orchidaceous plants of the tribe Kpi- 
dendrea', type of the subtribe Malaiea;. Itischar- 
acterized by a stem bearing one or two leaves, by the new 
plants arising from the apex of the old bulb, and by flow- 
ers with small, rather broad petals. There is but a single 
species, the bog-orchis, M. paludosa, which is found grow- 
ing in spongy bogs in northern Europe. It is a delicate 
plant, only 3 or 4 inches high, bearing very small greenish- 
yellow flowers in a loose, slender raceme. 
Malay (mii-la'), n. and a. [= F. Mnlni, Malais 
= Sp. Pg. J/nferi/0(cf.D. Maleiscli); < Malay .)/<(- 
lai/u, Malay (Orang Malayu, Malay men; Tilnah 
liulayu, Malay land),] J. n. 1. A native of Ma- 
malconformation 
lacca or of the Malay peninsula, or of the ad- 
jacent islands. 
The Miiln.ui the name is said to mean the same thing 
as that of the 1'arthians, viz. . . . emigrants. 
J. Hadlty, Essays (187UX P- 29- 
2. The language of the Malaya. It is a dialect 
belonging to the Malayan branch of the Malay- 
Polynesian family. 3. A variety of the domes- 
tic hen, having a tall and slender shape like 
that of the exhibition game, but larger, and long 
legs and neck and a close, low tail. The shanks 
are yellow ; the comb Is flat or strawberry-shaped. In 
coloration the hen is chocolate- or cinnamon. brown, with 
green-black lacing, while the cock resembles a dull-colored 
Mack- breasted red game-cock. The eggs are large and 
brown. 
II. a. Of or pertaining to the Malays or to 
their country. Also Malaic Malay apple, a iniall 
tree, Etujenia Malaccenriit, or its fruit. This tree is found 
wild In the Malayan. Polynesian, and Sandwich Islands, 
and widely cultivated, In many varieties. The fruit U of 
good size, with the form of a quince, juicy, delicate-fla- 
vored, and of an apple-like scent. Malay porcupine, 
a brush-tailed porcupine, Allieritm /aideulata. Malay 
race, one of the five principal divisions of mankind ac- 
cording to Blumenbach. In this division the summit of 
the head is slightly narrowed ; the forehead a little pro- 
jecting ; the nose thick, wide, and flattened ; the mouth 
large; the upper jaw projecting; the hair black, soft, 
thick, and curled. Malay tapir, the Indian or Asiatic 
tapir, Tamrus indicus or malayanwi. See tapir. 
Malayalam (mal-a-ya'lam), n. [Malayalam 
Malaydlam.] The language of Malabar, in 
southwestern India : it is a Dravidian dialect. 
Malayan (ma-la'an), a. and n. [< Malay + 
-an.] I. a. Of or pertaining to Malacca or 
the Malay peninsula or the people inhabiting 
that region; Malay Malayan bear. See tears, i. 
Malayan camphor. Same as Borneo camphor (which 
nee, under camphor). Malayan porcupine, Malayan 
tapir. Same as Malay porcupine, Malay tapir. 
II. >i. Same as Malay. 
Malayopolynesian (ma-la'6-pol-i-ne'gian), a. 
Same as Malay-Polynesian. 
Malay-Polynesian (ma-la'pol-i-ne'sian), a. 
Including the Malay and Polynesian :" applied 
to a family of languages occupying most of the 
islands of the Pacific, from Madagascar to East- 
er Island (not, however, Australia and Tasma- 
nia, nor the central parts of Borneo and New 
Guinea and of some other of the large islands), 
together with the Malayan peninsula. Its prin- 
cipal branches are the Malayan, of the peninsula and the 
islands nearest it, and the Polynesian, of the great mass 
of scattered Islands (including Madagascar and New Zea- 
land) ; to these is added by many the Melanesian, of the 
Fiji archipelago and its vicinity, which others regard as a 
separate family. The languages are of extreme simplicity, 
in regard both to phonetic and to grammatical structure. 
Malaysian (ma -la 'si -an), a. [< Malay (F. 
Malais) + -4an.] Relating to the Malay pen- 
insula or archipelago, or to the Malays. Also 
spelled Malaisian. Encyc. Brit., XV. 324. 
malbouchet, [ME., < OF. maleboucJie, evil- 
speaking, < mal, evil, + bouche, mouth: see 
bouche.] Evil speaking ; scandalmongering. 
Malbouche in court e hath grete comaundement ; 
lithe man studieth to sey the worst e he may. 
Political Poems, etc. (ed. Furaivall), p. 77. 
And to conferme his accione, 
Hee hath withholde malebauche. 
Oower. (llalliwell.) 
malbrouk (mal-bruk' ), n. [= F. malbrotik, mal- 
brouch (Button), a kind of monkey.] A monkey 
of the genus Ccrcocebits ; especially, C. cynosu- 
rus, the dog-tailed baboon. 
malchust (mal'kus), n. [= F. malchus, < Mat- 
ch us, Gr. MdA^of, whose ear was cut off by Peter 
(John xviii. 10).] A short cutting-sword. See 
braqucmart. 
Malcoha, n. Same as Phamicoj>haus. 
Malcolmia (mal-kol'mi-a), n. [NL. (R. Brown, 
1812), named after William Malcolm, a nursery- 
man and cultivator.] A genus of plants be- 
longing to the natural order Cruciferie, the 
mustard family, and the tribe Sisymbryea, char- 
acterized by long erect sepals, and a stigma 
with two lobes which either converge or unite 
to form a cone. They are branching herbs with alter- 
nate entire or pinnatifld leaves, and loose bractless ra- 
cemes of white or purple flowers. About 26 species are 
known, natives of Europe, northern Africa, and central and 
western Asia ; a few are sometimes cultivated for orna- 
ment. The best-known of these is M. marititna, the Mahon 
stock, called more often Virginia (sometimes riiyin) slack, 
an annual with red or white flowers, from the shores of the 
Mediterranean. 
malconceivedt (mal-kon-sevd'), a. HI con- 
ceived or planned. 
Sum new devised interlude or sum malconceitxd come- 
dies. O. Uarvey, To Spenser, 167S. 
malconforrnation (mal'kon-f^r-ma'shon), n. 
[< mal- + conformatiim.] Imperfect or irregu- 
lar conformation; disproportion of parts; mal- 
formation. 
