I.“rarely in reverse order: qui bonis dicunt male,” Plaut. Bacch. 1, 2, 10; cf. id. Trin. 4, 2, 79), xi. ctum, 3, v. n. and a. [male-dico], to speak ill of, to abuse, revile, slander, asperse; constr. absol., or with a dat. (so class.) or acc. (post-Aug.).
(β).
With dat.: “optimo viro maledicere,” Cic. Deiot. 10, 28: “turpissime alicui,” id. N. D. 1, 33, 93: “petulanter alicui,” id. Cael. 3, 8: “utrique,” Hor. S. 2, 3, 140: “Christo,” Plin. Ep. 10, 97, 5; Sen. Contr. 1, 4, 1.—Impers. pass.: “indignis si maledicitur, maledictum id esse dico,” Plaut. Curc. 4, 2, 27; Ter. Hec. 4, 2, 14. —
II. Esp., to curse, utter a curse upon (eccl. Lat.): “populo huic,” Vulg. Num. 22, 6 al.—Hence,
A. mălĕdī-cens , entis, P. a., evil - speaking, foulmouthed, abusive, scurrilous (syn. maledi cus): “maledicentes homines,” Plaut. Merc. 2, 3, 75.—Comp.: “maledicentior,” Plaut. Merc. 1, 2, 31.—Sup.: “in maledicentissimā civitate,” Cic. Fl. 3, 7: “carmina,” Suet. Caes. 23; Nep. Alc. 11, 1.—
B. mălĕdictus , a, um, P. a., accursed (post-class. for exsecrabilis): “maledicte parricida,” Spart. Get. 3, 3: “maledictus es inter omnia animantia,” Vulg. Gen. 3, 14: omnes incesti, Mos. et Rom. Leg. Coll. 6, 7 praef.—Hence, as subst.: mălĕ-dictum , i, n., a foul or abusive word.
I. In gen. (class.): “maledicta in aliquem dicere,” Cic. Q. Fr. 2, 3, 2: “in vitam alicujus conicere,” id. Planc. 12, 31: “maledictis figere aliquem,” id. N. D. 1, 34, 93: “maledicta in aliquem conferre,” id. Att. 11, 8, 2: “quod crimen (i. e. majestatis) non solum facto, sed et verbis impiis ac maledictis maxime exacerbatur,” Paul. Sent. 5, 29, 1.—
II. In partic., a curse, imprecation: “esse in maledictis jam antiquis strigem, convenit,” Plin. 11, 39, 95, § 232: “scribere maledicta,” Vulg. Num. 5, 23.—
B. Transf., a cursed thing: “Christus factus pro nobis maledictum,” Vulg. Gal. 3, 13: “maledictum non erit amplius,” id. Apoc. 22, 3.
