Emily Dickinson Lexicon

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.