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.
Malignant, a. and n. Also: malingnant. [e.m.E. maligna(u)nt, -ygnant (1542–5), OF. malignant, late L. malignans.]
1. adj. Ill-disposed, rebellious, disaffected, malcontent. a. As used by the early Reformers or retorted by their opponents.Malignant kirk, kirk malignant, = e.m.E. church malignant, applied to the Roman church, originally a patristic designation for the followers of Antichrist.1546 Pitsc. II. 58/5.
The tiranicall furie and infernall crudelietie of the malignant Kirk in approuing the said artickillis [accusing George Wishart] 1560 Acts II. 531/1.
The notis … quhairby the … spous of Christ Jesus is knawin fra … the Kirk malignant 1568 Lyndesay Pref. 401.
To encorage His elect … He hes maist michtilie manteynit thame amangis the middis of this malignant generatioun —1558 Q. Kennedy Tractive 114.
Thay … quha … takis to thaimselfis … the place of the … trew Kirk (quha ar of veritie the Kirk malingnant)
b. Used by the Covenanters with reference to their adversaries.1645 St. A. Presb. 24.
They did sing a malignant song, and drinke drinkes to James Grahame c1650 Spalding II. 364.
[In 1644,] That ilk minister … give wp in roll … the malignant ministeris within this diocie or disaffected ministeris, according to his knouledge; and … the malignant laick persones within his parochin 1649 Acts VI. ii. 446/2.
That any officer … found guilty of malignant and disafected speeches, as railing and enveying against the cause and covenant, or against the ministry, or against the present civill government … be carshiered 1649 Lorimer St. Cuthbert's 182.
All declaered that they knew nothing malignant in his carriage 1649 Cullen Kirk S. 19 Aug.
To deliver our king from the snar of malignant counsell 1638-54 Rec. Kirk Scotl. 600.
A most malignant and profaine gaurd of horsse to be aboute the King 1651 Auchterhouse Ann. 118. 1653 Binning Case of Conscience 3. 1661 J. Guthrie in Wodrow Hist. (1828) I. 193. 1692 Pitcairne Assembly v. ii. 85.
2. Applied to a disease: ? Extremely virulent or infectious.1568 Skeyne Descr. Pest A iij.
Quhilk is generit within vs or of vther causis [than the air] is callit ane malignant feuer
3. n. An ill-disposed person, a malcontent.Used by the Covenanters as a derogatory name for their adversaries.1644 Acts VI. i. 101/2.
To give order for wplifting and intrometing with the malignantes rentes for the vse of the publict 1645 Treatise Scotch Gentleman 2.
So the plots … is set forward by the hid malignants 1646 Acts VI. i. 552/2. 1646 Alyth Kirk S. in Sc. N. & Q. i Ser. XII. 61. 1647 Dalkeith Presb. in Butler Life Leighton 226.
Mr. James Fairly, moderator, delaitit one named Stephen Askine, who wes a known malignant 1648 Montgomery Mem. 310.
I wald not joyne in that ingadgement if any malignantis, aither Ingleishe or Scotteis, sould concure in armes with that armie 1649 Antiq. Aberd. & B. IV. 472. 1649 Lamont, J. Diary 1.
At this meitting, all those that werre comonly called malignants werre drawen up in 4 classes c1650 Spalding II. 158.
[In 1642] his [the King's] freindis and faithfull seruitoris declairit rebellis, incindiareis and malignantis 1650 Brechin Presb. 55. 1651 Auchterhouse Ann. 118. 1656 Johnston Diary (1940) 30. 1657 Dunkeld Presb. II. 426. c1680 W. Row Blair 187. 1680 Prediction by Mr Ritchard Cameron at Grass-Water-Side 35Peden Lord's Trumpet (1739) 40. in
He will chap upon the greatest man in all Scotland and he will be the greatest malignant in it 1692 Pitcairne Assembly v. iii. 94.
