Mrs. Malfort, the wife of the speculator, “houseless, friendless, defenceless, and forlorn.” The wants of Malfort are temporarily relieved by the bounty of Frank Heartall and the kindness of Mrs. Cheerly “the soldier’s daughter.” The return of Malfort, senior, from India, restores his son to ease and affluence.—Cherry, The Soldier’s Daughter (1804).
Malfy (Duchess of), twin-sister of Ferdinand, duke of Calabria. She fell in love with Antonio, her steward, and gave thereby mortal offense to her twin-brother, Ferdinand, and to her brother, the cardinal, who employed Bosola to strangle her.—John Webster, Duchess of Malfy (1618).
Malgo, a mythical king of Britain, noted for his beauty and his vices, his munificence and his strength. Malgo added Ireland, Iceland, Gothland, the Orkneys, Norway, and Dacia to his dominions. Geoffrey, British History, xi. 7 (1142).
Next Malgo ... first Orkney overran.
Proud Denmark then subdued, and spacious Norway wan.
Seized Iceland for his own, and Gothland to each shore.
Drayton, Polyolbion, xix. (1622).
Malesherbes (2 syl.). If anyone asked Malesherbes his opinion about any French words, he always sent him to the street porters at the Port au Foin, saying that they were his “masters in language.”—Racan, Vie de Malesherbes (1830).
It is said that Shakespeare read his plays to an oyster-woman when he wished to know if they would suit the popular taste.
Mal´inal, brother of Yuhid´thiton. When the Aztecas declared war against Madoc and his colony, Malinal cast in his lot with the white strangers. He was a noble youth, who received two arrow-wounds in his leg while defending the white women; and being unable to stand, fought in their defense on his knees. When Malinal was disabled, Amal´ahta caught up the princess, and ran off with her; but Mervyn the “young page” (in fact a girl) struck him on the hamstrings with a bill-hook, and Malinal, crawling to the spot, thrust his sword in the villain’s groin and killed him.—Southey, Madoc, ii. 16 (1805).