malin

See also: Malin, malîn, and malīn

Albanian

Noun

malin

  1. definite accusative singular of mal

Finnish

Noun

malin

  1. genitive singular of mali

Anagrams

French

Etymology

Semi-learned borrowing from Latin malignus (wicked, malicious).

Pronunciation

  • IPA(key): /ma.lɛ̃/
  • (file)

Adjective

malin (feminine maligne or maline, masculine plural malins, feminine plural malignes or malines)

  1. (obsolete) nocive, pernicious
  2. (medicine) malignant
    Antonym: bénin
    une tumeur malignea malignant tumor
  3. (chiefly dated or biblical) malicious, sadistic (which likes to do or say hurtful things for fun)
    Synonym: méchant
    prendre un malin plaisir à faire quelque choseto take perverse pleasure in doing something
  4. (informal) smart and quick-thinking, and often tricksterish; cunning, crafty
    Synonyms: astucieux, fin, intelligent, rusé
    C’est malin !Well done!
    avoir l’air malinto look daft, to look silly (ironic)
    • 1982, “Un été sans toi”, performed by Charles Aznavour:
      C’est inhumain / De me laisser seul / J’ai l’air malin / Sous mon parasol
      It's inhuman / To leave me alone / I look silly / Under my umbrella
  5. (Quebec) aggressive (of an animal); petulant (of a person)

Usage notes

  • The standard language uses the feminine maligne. The popular byform maline has existed for centuries, but is considered incorrect in formal writing. In the vernacular, it is predominant especially for the sense smart, cunning.
  • In its meaning of malicious the word is mostly restricted to expressions such as malin plaisir; it is a standard attribute of the Devil.

Derived terms

Noun

malin m (plural malins, feminine maligne or maline)

  1. trickster, smart person

Derived terms

Further reading

Anagrams

Polish

Pronunciation

  • IPA(key): /ˈma.lin/
  • Rhymes: -alin
  • Syllabification: ma‧lin
  • Homophone: Malin

Noun

malin f

  1. genitive plural of malina

Romanian

Adjective

malin m or n (feminine singular malină, masculine plural malini, feminine and neuter plural maline)

  1. Alternative form of malign

Declension

Lua error: attempt to perform arithmetic on local 'h' (a nil value)

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