MALIGNING

Verb

maligning

present participle of malign

Source: Wiktionary

MALIGN

Ma*lign", a. Etym: [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.] Etym: [Cf. L. malignare. See Malign, a.]

Definition: 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.

Definition: To entertain malice. [Obs.]

Source: Webster’s Unabridged Dictionary 1913 Edition