mălĕfĭcus — Lewis & Short
mălĕfĭcus (in MSS. also mălĭfĭ-cus), a, um, adj.malefacio,
I 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,Cic. 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.