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malinger

 - 5 dictionary results

ma⋅lin⋅ger

  [muh-ling-ger]
Use malinger in a Sentence
–verb (used without object)
to pretend illness, esp. in order to shirk one's duty, avoid work, etc.
Origin:
1810–20; < F malingre sickly, ailing, equiv. to mal- mal- + OF heingre haggard (perh. < Gmc)

Related forms:
ma⋅lin⋅ger⋅er, noun
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
Cite This Source Link To malinger
ma·lin·ger   (mə-lĭng'gər)   
intr.v.   ma·lin·gered, ma·lin·ger·ing, ma·lin·gers
To feign illness or other incapacity in order to avoid duty or work.

[From French malingre, sickly.]
ma·lin'ger·er n.
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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Word Origin & History

malinger 
1785 (implied in malingerer), from Fr. malingrer "to suffer," perhaps also "pretend to be ill," from malingre "ailing, sickly," possibly a blend of mingre "sickly, miserable" and malade "ill." Mingre is itself a blend of maigre "meager" + haingre "sick, haggard," possibly from Gmc. (cf. M.H.G. hager "thin"). The sense evolution may be through notion of beggars with sham sores.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper
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Medical Dictionary

Main Entry: ma·lin·ger
Pronunciation: m&-'li[ng]-g&r
Function: intransitive verb
Inflected Forms: ma·lin·gered;ma·lin·ger·ing /-g(&-)ri[ng]/
: to pretend or exaggerate incapacity or illness so as to avoid duty or work
Merriam-Webster's Medical Dictionary, © 2002 Merriam-Webster, Inc.
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Medical Dictionary

malinger ma·lin·ger (mə-lĭng'gər)
v. ma·lin·gered, ma·lin·ger·ing, ma·lin·gers
To feign illness or other incapacity in order to avoid duty or work.

ma·lin'ger·er n.

The American Heritage® Stedman's Medical Dictionary
Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company.
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