Malengine

Pronunciation

• UK IPA: /malˈɛndʒɪn/

Alternative forms

• male engyne 12th - 15th centuries

Origin

From Anglo-Norman mal engin, Middle French mal engin, from mal ("bad, evil") + engin ("engine").

Full definition of malengine

Noun

1. (archaic) Evil intent, bad intention; fraud, deceit.
• 1485, Sir Thomas Malory, Le Morte Darthur, Book VII:I dare sey for good love she bade us to dyner and nat for no male engyne.
• 1590, Edmund Spenser, The Faerie Queene, III.i:the chaste damzell, that had neuer priefe
  Of such malengine and fine forgerie,
  Did easily beleeue her strong extremitie.
• 1641, John Milton, Of Reformation:for when the protector's brother, Lord Sudley, the admiral, through private malice and mal-engine was to lose his life, no man could be found fitter than Bishop Latimer ... to divulge in his sermon the forged accusations laid to his charge ....

Anagrams

• enameling
• meningeal