Maledisaunt, a damsel who threw discredit on her knightly lover to prevent his encountering the danger of the battlefield. Sir Launcelot condoned her offense, and gave her the name of Bienpensaunt.
The Cape of Good Hope was called the “Cape of Storms” (Cabo Tormentoso) by Bartholomew Diaz, when discovered in 1493; but the king of Portugal (John II.) changed the name to “Good Hope.”
So the Euxine (that is, “the hospitable”) Sea was originally called “The Axine” (or “the inhospitable”) Sea.
Maleffort, seneschal of Lady Bria´na; a man of “mickle might,” slain by Sir Calidore.—Spenser, Faëry Queen, vi. 1 (1596).
Male´ger, (3 syl.), captain of the host which besieged Body Castle, of which Alma was queen. Prince Arthur found that his sword was powerless to wound him, so he took him up in his arms and tried to crush him, but without effect. At length the prince remembered that the earth was the carl’s mother, and supplied him with new strength and vigor as often as he went to her for it; so he carried the body, and flung it into a lake. (See Antæos.)—Spenser, Faëry Queen, ii. 11 (1590).
Malen´gin, Guile personified. When attacked by Talus, he changed himself into a fox, a bush, a bird, a hedgehog, and a snake; but Talus, with his iron flail, beat him to powder, and so “deceit did the deceiver fail.” On his back Malengin carried a net “to catch fools” with.—Spenser, Faëry Queen, v. 9 (1596).
Malepardus, the castle of Master Reynard, the fox, in the beast epic of Reynard the Fox (1498).
Males and Females. The proportion in England is 104.5 males to 100 females; in Russia it is 108.9; and the Jews in Livonia give the ratio of 120 males born to every 100 females. The mortality of males in infancy exceeds that of females, and war greatly disturbs the balance.
Mal-Fet (The chevalier), the name assumed by Sir Launcelot in Joyous Isle, during his fit of madness, which lasted two years.—Sir T. Malory, History of Prince Arthur, iii. (1470).
Malfort (Mr.), a young man who has ruined himself by speculation.