malicious abandonment

Malicious \Ma*li"cious\, a. [Of. malicius, F. malicieux, fr. L.
   malitiosus. See {Malice}.]
   1. Indulging or exercising malice; harboring ill will or
      enmity.
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            I grant him bloody, . . .
            Sudden, malicious, smacking of every sin
            That has a name.                      --Shak.
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   2. Proceeding from hatred or ill will; dictated by malice;
      as, a malicious report; malicious mischief.
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   3. (Law) With wicked or mischievous intentions or motives;
      wrongful and done intentionally without just cause or
      excuse; as, a malicious act.
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   {Malicious abandonment}, the desertion of a wife or husband
      without just cause. --Burrill.

   {Malicious prosecution} or {Malicious arrest} (Law), a wanton
      prosecution or arrest, by regular process in a civil or
      criminal proceeding, without probable cause. --Bouvier.
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   Syn: Ill-disposed; evil-minded; mischievous; envious;
        malevolent; invidious; spiteful; bitter; malignant;
        rancorous; malign.
        [1913 Webster] -- {Ma*li"cious*ly}, adv. --
        {Ma*li"cious*ness}, n.
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