Malachi, the canting, preaching assistant of Thomas Turnbull, a smuggler and schoolmaster.—Sir W. Scott, Redgauntlet (time, George III.).
Malacoda, the fiend sent as an envoy to Virgil, when he conducted Dantê through hell.—Dantè, Hell, xxi. (1300).
Malade Imaginaire (Le), Mons. Argan, who took seven mixtures and twelve lavements in one month instead of twelve mixtures with twenty lavements, as he had hitherto done. “No wonder,” he says, “he is not so well.” He fancies his wife loves him dearly, and that his daughter is undutiful, because she declines to marry a young medical prig instead of Cléante (2 syl.) whom she loves. His brother persuades “the malade” to counterfeit death, in order to test the sincerity of his wife and daughter. The wife rejoices greatly at his death, and proceeds to filch his property, when Argan starts up and puts an end to her pillage. Next comes the daughter’s turn. When she hears of her father’s death, she bewails him with great grief, says she has lost her best friend, and that she will devote her whole life in prayer for the repose of his soul. Argan is delighted, starts up in a frenzy of joy, declares she is a darling, and shall marry the man of her choice freely, and receive a father’s blessing.—Molière, Le Malade Imaginaire (1673).
Malagi´gi, son of Buovo, brother of Aldĭger and Vivian (of Clarmont’s race), one of Charlemagne’s paladins, and cousin of Rinaldo. Being brought up by the fairy Orianda, he became a great enchanter.—Oriosto, Orlando Furioso (1516).
Malagri´da (Gabriel), an Italian Jesuit and missionary to Brazil, who was accused of conspiring against the king of Portugal (1689-1761).[(1689-1761).]
Lord Shelburne was nicknamed “Malagrida.” He was a zealous oppositionist during Lord North’s administration (1737-1805).
Malagrowther (Sir Mungo), a crabbed old courtier, soured by misfortune, and peevish from infirmities. He tries to make every one as sour and discontented as himself.—Sir W. Scott, Fortunes of Nigel (time, James I.).
Malagrowther (Malachi), Sir W. Scott, “On the proposed change of currency, etc.” (1826).
Lockhart says that these “diatribes produced in Scotland a sensation not inferior to that of the Drapier’s letters in Ireland.” They came out in the Edinburgh Weekly Journal.
Malambru´no, a giant, first cousin to Queen Maguncia, of Candaya. “Exclusive of his natural barbarity[barbarity], Malambruno was also a wizard,” who enchanted Don Calvijo and the Princess Antonomasia—the former into a crocodile of some unknown metal, and the latter into a monkey of brass. The giant sent Don Quixote the wooden horse, and was appeased “by the simple attempt of the knight to disenchant the victims of his displeasure.”—Cervantes, Don Quixote, II. iii. 4, 5, (1615).