† malefact Obs.
[ad. L. malefactum, neut. pa. pple. of malefacĕre to do wrong, f. male ill + facĕre to do.]
A malefaction, offence.
| 1534 Act 26 Hen. VIII, c. 6 §1 Wilful burning of houses, & other scelerous dedes and abhominable malefactis. 1556–7 Act 3–4 Phil. & Mary in Bolton Stat. Irel. (1621) 256 Brought to answer to the law for that malefact. 1632 Lithgow Trav. x. 457 Hee demanded me..what malefact I was guilty of? |