maleficus (in MSS. also malifi-cus), a, um, adj. malefacio, evil-doing, nefarious, vicious, wicked, criminal. Lit. 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.: male-fious, i, m., an evil-doer, criminal: contra istoc detrudi maleficos Aequom videlur, Plaut. Trin. 2, 4, 150.

— In partic., magical: artes, Vulg. 2 Par. 33, 6.

—As substt. maleficus, 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.

— maleficum, i, n., a charm, means of enchantment: semusti cineres aliaque malefica, quis creditur anima numinibus inferis sacrari, Tac. A. 2, 69 fin.

— 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.: maleficē, mischievously: aliquid agere, Plaut. Ps. 4, 7, 113.