Mal`a*cis*sa"tion (?), n. [L. malacissare to make soft, Gr. &?;.] The
act of making soft or supple. [Obs.] Bacon.
||Mal`a*cob*del"la (?), n. [NL., fr. Gr. &?; soft + &?; a leech.]
||(Zoöl.) A genus of nemertean worms, parasitic in the gill cavity of
||clams and other bivalves. They have a large posterior sucker, like
||that of a leech. See Illust. of Bdellomorpha.
Mal"a*co*derm (?), n. [Gr. &?; soft + &?; skin.] (Zoöl.) One of a tribe
of beetles (Malacodermata), with a soft and flexible body, as the
fireflies.
Mal"a*co*lite (?), n. [Gr. &?; soft + -lite.] (Min.) A variety of
pyroxene.
Mal`a*col"o*gist (?), n. One versed in the science of malacology.
Mal`a*col"o*gy (?), n. [Gr. &?; soft + -logy: cf. F. malacologie.] The
science which relates to the structure and habits of mollusks.
||Mal`a*cop"o*da (?), n. pl. [NL., fr. Gr. &?; soft + -poda.] (Zoöl.) A
||class of air-breathing Arthropoda; -- called also Protracheata, and
||Onychophora.
They somewhat resemble myriapods, and have from seventeen to
thirty-three pairs of short, imperfectly jointed legs, two pairs of
simple jaws, and a pair of antennæ. The trancheæ are connected with
numerous spiracles scattered over the surface of the body. Peripatus is
the only known genus. See Peripatus.
Mal`a*cop`ter*yg"i*an (?), n. [Cf. F. malacoptérygien.] (Zoöl.) One of
the Malacopterygii.
||Mal`a*cop`te*ryg"i*i (?), n. pl. [NL., fr. Gr. &?; soft + &?; wing,
||fin, fr. &?; feather.] (Zoöl.) An order of fishes in which the fin
||rays, except the anterior ray of the pectoral and dorsal fins, are
||closely jointed, and not spiny. It includes the carp, pike, salmon,
||shad, etc. Called also Malacopteri.
Mal`a*cop`ter*yg"i*ous (?), a. (Zoöl.) Belonging to the Malacopterygii.
Mal`a*cos"te*on (?), n. [NL., Gr. fr. &?; soft + &?; bone.] (Med.) A
peculiar disease of the bones, in consequence of which they become
softened and capable of being bent without breaking.
Mal`a*cos"to*mous (?), a. [Gr. &?; soft + &?; mouth.] (Zoöl.) Having
soft jaws without teeth, as certain fishes.
||Mal`a*cos"tra*ca (?), n. pl. [NL., from Gr. &?; soft + &?; shell of a
||testacean.] (Zoöl.) A subclass of Crustacea, including Arthrostraca
||and Thoracostraca, or all those higher than the Entomostraca.
Mal`a*cos"tra*can (?), n. (Zoöl.) One of the Malacostraca.
Mal`a*cos`tra*col"o*gy (?), n. [Malacostracan + -logy.] That branch of
zoölogical science which relates to the crustaceans; -- called also
carcinology.
Mal`a*cos"tra*cous (?), a. (Zoöl.) Belonging to the Malacostraca.
Mal`a*co*toon" (?), n. (Bot.) See Melocoton.
||Mal`a*co*zo"a (?), n. pl. [NL., fr. Gr. &?; soft + zo^,on an animal.]
||(Zoöl.) An extensive group of Invertebrata, including the Mollusca,
||Brachiopoda, and Bryozoa. Called also Malacozoaria.
Mal`a*co*zo"ic (?), a. (Zoöl.) Of or pertaining to the Malacozoa.
Mal`ad*dress" (?), n. [Mal- + address.] Bad address; an awkward,
tactless, or offensive way of accosting one or talking with one. W. D.
Howells.
Mal`ad*just"ment (?), n. [Mal- + adjustment.] A bad adjustment.
Mal`ad*min`is*tra"tion (?), n. [Mal- + administration.] Bad
administration; bad management of any business, especially of public
affairs. [Written also maleadministration.]
Mal`a*droit" (?), a. [F. See Malice, and Adroit.] Of a quality opposed
to adroitness; clumsy; awkward; unskillful. -- Mal"a*droit`ly, adv. --
Mal`a*droit"ness, n.
Mal"a*dy (?), n.; pl. Maladies (#). [F. maladie, fr. malade ill, sick,
OF. also, malabde, fr. L. male habitus, i. e., ill-kept, not in good
condition. See Malice, and Habit.] 1. Any disease of the human body; a
distemper, disorder, or indisposition, proceeding from impaired,
defective, or morbid organic functions; especially, a lingering or
deep-seated disorder.
The maladies of the body may prove medicines to the mind.
Buckminster.