malin

malin

1. definite accusative singular of mal

malin

1. genitive singular of mali

• ilman, liman

Inherited from Middle French malin(g), backformation from Old French maligne m (12th c.), a borrowing from Latin malignus. Compare the same backformation in bénin and, on the other hand, the original common-gender form preserved in digne.

• IPA^(key): /ma.lɛ̃/

• Audio:

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

1. (obsolete) nocive, pernicious
2. (medicine) malignant

   Antonym: bénin

   une tumeur maligne ― a 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 chose ― to take perverse pleasure in doing something

4. (informal) smart and quick-thinking, and often tricksterish; cunning, crafty

   Synonyms: astucieux, fin, intelligent, rusé

   malin comme un singe ― smart as a whip

   avoir l'air malin ― to look daft, to look silly (ironic)

   C'est malin ! ― Well done!

   • 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)

• The standard language uses the feminine maligne. The popular byform maline has existed since the 16th century, 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.

malin m (plural malins, feminine maligne or maline)

1. shrewd person, smart person

   Synonym: rusé

• à malin, malin et demi
• gros malin (“smart ass”)
• petit malin (“trickster”)
• faire le malin

• “malin”, in Trésor de la langue française informatisé [Digitized Treasury of the French Language], 2012.

• milan, Milan

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

malin f

1. genitive plural of malina

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

1. alternative form of malign