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A Dictionary of the Older Scottish Tongue (up to 1700)

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First published 1971 (DOST Vol. IV).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

Malici(o)us, a. Also: -ceous, mal(l)iti(o)us, malytyus, malisi(o)us, malyssius, malishes, malishcyus. [ME. malicius (a 1225), malicious, malycyouse (14th c.), e.m.E. malysyous, malitious, OF. malicius.]

1. Of persons or their dispositions: Evilly inclined, wicked; motivated by ill-will or rancour, spiteful; also, ill-tempered, peevish.Also const. contrair, against (a person etc.).(1) c1490 Irland Asl. MS. I. 5/3.
[The devil is a] malicious aduocat and fals doctour to thé a1500 Seven S. 1226. 1569-73 Bann. Memor. 167.
Hir most malicious enemeis come neuer to that impudencie that [etc.] 1590-1 R. Bruce Serm. 106.
Gif ye were als malitious and were become als wicked as aver anie incarnate devill 1596 Dalr. I. 254/2.
Be sum malitious persounis … is he put doune 1599 Rollock Wks. I. 435.
Be nature we are allborne fuillis bot malitious fuilis … displeasing God 1660 Cramond Kirk S. 2 Sept.
Margrat Corston being found to persist in her obstinat malicious humour 1669 Bk. O. Edinb. C. V. 144.
Concerning the burning of a barne yeard by a most mallitious womane(b) c1460 Dietary 12.
Nocht malicius for none aduersite c1500-c1512 Dunb. Flyt. 89.
Thy mynd malitius 1528 Lynd. Dreme 274.
[In Hell] Sum had bene creuell and malicius a1568 Bann. MS. 271 a/155. 1570 Reg. Morton I. 51.
Ȝe sall neuir lett malitius toungis be talking the werst thai can 1616 Lett. & St. P. Jas. VI 298.
So maney malishcyus, unconscyonat peple(2) 1567 G. Ball. 211.
Ȝe grew sa superstitious … It gart vs grow malicious Contrair ȝour mes 1638-54 Rec. Kirk Scotl. 47.
An act against those which are maliceous ag[ain]st this Church

2. Of actions, utterances, intentions, etc.: Inspired by evil intentions, ill will or rancour; evil, wicked; rancorous, spiteful; cruel.(a) 1456 Hay I. 214/4.
Thus wald thai cover thair malicious tyranny Ib. II. 75/34. a1500 Henr. Test. Cress. 324.
O cruell Saturne, … Hard is thy dome, and to malitious 1538 Aberd. B. Rec. I. 154.
Conwickit … for the … malicious strublying and myspersonyng of Jonat Barbour, his moder of law 1560 Rolland Seven S. 4347. c1610 Jok Uplandis Newis 4 b.
Ther contentione & malitious resistance 1622-6 Bisset I. 123/4.
Bevar … that … by … malisious cavellatioun, thow pronunce a indirect sentence aganis the pairtie haitted by thé(b) 1526 Douglas Corr. 343.
In thayr malicius and perversit opinionis 1528 Ib. 130.
Without malicius or perciale wayis 1586 Warrender P. MS. 171.
This malytyus inventyouns be swm … hes put ws to gret trublie(c) 1502 Halyb. 269.
The raman of his dettis … he menswern me with ewyll malyssius langag 1622 Haddington Corr. 140.
Freindis for defending me aganest his malisius intentioune 1644 Crim. Trials III. 194.
By the foirsaid precedentis of your malice, wicked and malishes practises, by witchcraft, [etc.] 1672 Kirkcudbr. Sheriff Ct. Processes No. 144.
The forsaids persons have comitted ane manifest … ryot and malisious oppresione