Malapropism
(Mal"a*prop*ism) n. [From Mrs. Malaprop, a character in Sheridan's drama, " The Rivals," who
makes amusing blunders in her use of words. See Malapropos.] A grotesque misuse of a word; a
word so used.
Malapropos
(Mal*ap"ro*pos`) a. & adv. [F. mal à propos; mal evil + à propos to the purpose.] Unseasonable
or unseasonably; unsuitable or unsuitably.
Malapterurus
(||Mal*ap`te*ru"rus) n. [NL., from Gr. malako`s soft + ptero`n wing + o'yra` tail.] (Zoöl.)
A genus of African siluroid fishes, including the electric catfishes. See Electric cat, under Electric.
Malar
(Ma"lar) a. [L. mala the cheek: cf. F. malaire.] (Anat.) Of or pertaining to the region of the cheek
bone, or to the malar bone; jugal.
Malar
(Ma"lar) n. (Anat.) The cheek bone, which forms a part of the lower edge of the orbit.
Malaria
(Ma*la"ri*a) n. [It., contr. fr. malaaria bad air. See Malice, and Air.]
1. Air infected with some noxious substance capable of engendering disease; esp., an unhealthy exhalation
from certain soils, as marshy or wet lands, producing fevers; miasma.
The morbific agent in malaria is supposed by some to be a vegetable microbe or its spores, and by
others to be a very minute animal blood parasite
2. (Med.) A morbid condition produced by exhalations from decaying vegetable matter in contact with
moisture, giving rise to fever and ague and many other symptoms characterized by their tendency to
recur at definite and usually uniform intervals.
Malarial
(Ma*la"ri*al Ma*la"ri*an) Malarious
(Ma*la"ri*ous) , a. Of or pertaining, to or infected by, malaria.
Malarial fever (Med.), a fever produced by malaria, and characterized by the occurrence of chills,
fever, and sweating in distinct paroxysms, At intervals of definite and often uniform duration, in which
these symptoms are wholly absent or only partially so (remittent fever); fever and ague; chills and fever.
Malashaganay
(Ma`la*sha"ga*nay) n. [Indian name.] (Zoöl.) The fresh-water drumfish (Haploidonotus
grunniens).
Malassimilation
(Mal`as*sim`i*la"tion) n. [Mal- + assimilation.] (Physiol.) (a) Imperfect digestion of
the several leading constituents of the food. (b) An imperfect elaboration by the tissues of the materials
brought to them by the blood.
Malate
(Ma"late) n. [L. malum apple: cf. F. malate. See Malic.] (Chem.) A salt of malic acid.
Malax
(Ma"lax Ma*lax"ate) v. t. [L. malaxare, malaxatum, cf. Gr. fr. soft: cf. F. malaxer.] To soften
by kneading or stirring with some thinner substance. [R.]
Malaxation
(Mal`ax*a"tion) n. [L. malaxatio: cf. F. malaxation.] The act of softening by mixing with a
thinner substance; the formation of ingredients into a mass for pills or plasters. [R.]
