“She give me such sass as I cudn’t take from no lady, an’ I give her warnin’, an’ left that instant, an’ she a-pointin’ to the door.”—Mary Mapes Dodge, Thophilus and Others (1876).
Maltworm, a tippler. Similarly, bookworm means a student.
Mal´venu, Lucif´ĕra’s porter.—Spenser, Faëry Queen, i. 4 (1590).
Malvina, daughter of Toscar. She was betrothed to Oscar, son of Ossian; but he was slain in Ulster by Cairbar, before the day of marriage arrived.—Temora, i.
I was a lovely tree in thy presence, Oscar, with all my branches round me; but thy death came like a blast from the desert, and laid my green head low. The spring returned with its showers; no leaf of mine arose.... The tear was on the cheek of Malvina.—Ossian, Croma.
Malvoisin (Sir Albert de), a preceptor of the Knights Templars.
Sir Philip de Malvoisin, one of the knights challengers at the tournament.—Sir W. Scott, Ivanhoe (time, Richard I.).
Malvo´lio, Olivia’s steward. When he reproves Sir Toby Belch for riotous living, the knight says to him, “Dost thou think, because thou art virtuous, there shall be no more cakes and ale?” Sir Toby and Sir Andrew Ague-cheek join Maria in a trick against the steward. Maria forges a letter in the handwriting of Olivia, leading Malvolio to suppose that his mistress is in love with him, telling him to dress in yellow stockings, and to smile on the lady. Malvolio falls into the trap; and when Olivia shows astonishment at his absurd conduct, he keeps quoting parts of the letter he has received, and is shut up in a dark room as a lunatic.—Shakespeare, Twelfth Night (1614).
Mamamouchi, an imaginary order of knighthood. M. Jourdain, the parvenu, is persuaded that the grand seignior of the order has made him a member, and he submits to the ceremony of a mock installation.—Molière, Le Bourgeois Gentilhomme (1670).
All the women most devoutly swear,