M – N
machination(MAK in AY shin) n.a secret or artful plot, usually one having
evil intention (usually plural)
- The machinationsof the KGB have made for some pretty exciting spy novels.
- The Odessa Filetells of the machinationsof an organization designed to fur-
ther the cause of the Nazis after the war.
[Syn. plot]
malediction(MAL I DIK shin) n.1. a curse or the calling down of an evil spell
on someone; 2. evil talk about someone; slander - Giving one the evil eye is one form of maledictionpopular among some
European cultures. - Certain Caribbean cultures carry out their maledictionsthrough the use of
effigies called voodoo dolls. - The newspaper story about Henry’s drug misuse was a maledictionworthy
of a healthy sized lawsuit.
malinger*(muh LING oer) vt.to feign illness or injury to avoid work; to shirk - They have a name for malingeringin the army; it’s goldbricking.
- One who malingersand gets a reputation for so doing is not likely to
remain employed for very long, unless, of course, his/her employer is
his/her parent.
[-ed, -ing, -er n.]
mallet(MAL it) n.1. a kind of hammer usually with a head of wood (used to
drive a chisel) or of hard rubber (used to bang out dents in sheet metal); 2. a long-
handled hammer with a cylinder-shaped head used for playing croquet or one with
an even longer handle used for playing polo; 3. a small, wooden hammer with a
round head used to play xylophone, marimba, glockenspiel, bells, etc. - The body-shop worker uses a rubber malletto hammer out small dents.
- A polo mallethas a very long handle because each player must strike the
ball while seated on a horse. - Wooden malletswith ball-shaped heads are used to strike the keys on a
xylophone.
mandate*(MAN dayt) n.1. an authoritative order, usually in writing; 2. the
overwhelming wishes of an elected official’s constituents, regarded as an order
—vt.to require, as by law - As a result of World War I, mandatesto rule certain areas that used to be
parts of the Ottoman Empire were issued by the League of Nations. - The shop foreman has a mandatefrom ownership to require each worker to
put in 16 hours of overtime. - Senator Strong’s overwhelming victory is a mandatefor him to pursue
equal rights for women. - The new law mandatesa $300 fine for overtime parking.
[-d,* mandating]
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