Emily Dickinson Lexicon

MAKE-WEIGHT, n.

That which is thrown into a scale to make weight. Philips.

MA'KI, n.

An animal of the genus Lemur. The ring-tailed maki is of the size of a cat. Encyc. The common name of a subdivision of the Linnæan genus Lemur, including the macauco, the mongooz, and the vari. Cuvier.

MAK-ING, n.

1. The act of forming, causing, or constituting.
2. Workmanship. This is cloth of your own making.
3. Composition; structure.
4. A poem.

MAK-ING, ppr.

Forming; causing; compelling; creating; constituting.

MAL, a. [or MALE.]

As a prefix, in composition, denotes ill or evil, Fr. mal, L. malus. [See Malady.]

MAL'A-CHITE, n. [Gr. μαλαχη, mallows, L. malva, from μαλακος, soft, so named from its resembling the color of the leaf of mallows.]

An oxyd of copper, combined with carbonic acid, found in solid masses of a beautiful green color. It consists of layers, in the form of nipples or needles converging toward a common center. It takes a good polish, and is often manufactured into toys. Fourcroy. Dict. Nat. Hist.

MAL'A-CO-LITE, n. [Gr. μαλαχη, mallows, from its color.]

Another name for diopside, a variety of pyroxene. Cleaveland. Lunier.

MAL-A-COL'O-GIST, n.

One who treats of the mollusca.

MAL-A-COL'O-GY, a. [Gr. μαλακος, soft, and λογος.]

In natural history, the science of the structure and habits of soft animals, or mollusca.

MAL-A-COP-TE-RYG'I-OUS, a. [Gr. μαλακος, soft, and πτερυγιον, a point or feather.]

Having bony rays or fins, not sharp or pointed at the extremity; as a fish.

MAL-A-COS'TO-MOUS, a. [Gr. μαλακος, soft, and στομα, mouth.]

Having soft jaws without teeth; as a fish. Encyc.

MAL-A-COS'TRA-COUS, a.

Belonging to a section of crustaceous animals called malacostraca. They have solid teguments, and 10 or 14 feet.

MAL-AD-JUST'MENT, n.

An evil or wrong adjustment. Chalmers.

MAL-AD-MIN-IS-TRA'TION, n. [See Mal and Administer.]

Bad management of public affairs; vicious or defective conduct in administration, or the performance of official duties, particularly of executive and ministerial duties, prescribed by law; as, the maladministration of a king, or of any chief magistrate.

MAL-A-DROIT'NESS, n.

Bad dexterity.

MAL'A-DY, n. [Fr. maladie; It. malattia, from the W. mall, softness, debility, an evil, a malady; L. malum; W. mallu, to make soft or flaccid, to deprive of energy, to make insipid, to make evil, to become evil. This coincides in origin with Eng. mellow, L. mollis, Gr. μαλακος, αμαλος, Heb. חמל. In opposition to this, virtue, value and health, are from the sense of strength, vigor.]

1. Any sickness or disease of the human body; any distemper, disorder or indisposition, proceeding from impaired, defective or morbid organic functions; more particularly, a lingering or deep seated disorder or indisposition. It may be applied to any animal body, but is, I believe, rarely or never applied to plants. The maladies of the body may prove medicines to the mid. Buckminster.
2. Defect or corruption of the heart; depravity; moral disorder or corruption of moral principles. Depravity of heart is a moral malady.
3. Disorder of the understanding or mind.

MALA-FIDE, adv. [Mala fide; L.]

With bad faith; deceitfully; treacherously.

MAL'A-GA, n.

A species of wine imported from Malaga, in Spain.

MA-LAN'DERS, n. [from mal, ill, and It. andare, to go.]

A dry scab on the pastern of a horse. Johnson

MAL'A-PERT, a. [mal and pert.]

Saucy; quick, with impudence; sprightly, without respect or decency; bold; forward. Are you growing malapert? Dryden.

MAL'A-PERT-LY, adv.

Saucily; with impudence. Skelton.

MAL'A-PERT-NESS, n.

Sauciness; impudent pertness or forwardness; sprightliness of reply without decency.

MAL-AP-RO-POS, adv. [malap'ropo. Fr. mal, evil, and apropos, to the purpose.]

Unsuitably. Dryden.

MA'LAR, a. [L. mala, the cheek.]

Pertaining to the cheek.

MA-LA'RI-A, n. [mal and aria, bad air, Ital.]

Bad air; that species of air which produces or tends to produce disease.