maleficum

mălĕfĭcus (in MSS. also mălĭfĭ-cus ), a, um, adj. [malefacio], evil-doing, nefarious, vicious, wicked, criminal.

I.

Lit.

A.

In gen. (class.):

homo natura maleficus, et injustus,

Cic. Tusc. 5, 20, 57:

malefici sceleratique homines,

id. Verr. 2, 5, 55, § 144:

maleficentissimus,

Suet. Galb. 15:

mores malefici,

Plaut. Cas. 4, 2, 4:

malefica vita,

Tac. A. 4, 21.—As subst.: mălĕ-fĭous, i, m., an evil-doer, criminal:

contra istoc detrudi maleficos Aequom videlur,

Plaut. Trin. 2, 4, 150.—

B.

In partic., magical:

artes,

Vulg. 2 Par. 33, 6.—As substt.

1.

mălĕfĭcus, i, m., a magician, enchanter:

de maleficis et mathematicis,

Cod. Just. 9, 18, 5:

magi qui malefici vulgi consuetudine nuncupantur,

ib. 9, 18, 7; Schol. Juv. 6, 594.—

2.

mălĕfĭcum, i, n., a charm, means of enchantment:

semusti cineres aliaque malefica, quis creditur anima numinibus inferis sacrari,

Tac. A. 2, 69 fin. —

II.

Transf., hurtful, injurious, noxious, mischievous (only post-Aug.):

Christiani, genus hominum superstitionis novae atque maleficae,

Suet. Ner. 16:

sidera,

Plin. 7, 49, 50, § 160:

vis,

id. 33, 4, 25, § 84:

bestia piscibus malefica,

id. 9, 15, 20, § 50:

caprae, maleficum frondibus animal,

id. 12, 17, 37, § 73:

natura,

inimical, unpropitious, Nep. Ages. 8, 1:

bestia,

Amm. 28, 3, 4.— Hence, adv.: mălĕfĭcē, mischievously:

aliquid agere,

Plaut. Ps. 4, 7, 113.