[n] impairment of normal physiological function affecting part or all of an organism
[n] any unwholesome or desperate condition; "what maladies afflict our nation?"
See Also...
aeroembolism, ague, air embolism, amyloidosis, anuresis, anuria, bends, caisson disease, catastrophic illness, collapse, condition, decompression sickness, disease, food poisoning, gas embolism, gastrointestinal disorder, growth, health problem, hypermotility, ill health, indisposition, lead poisoning, ozone sickness, plumbism, saturnism, status, toxaemia, toxaemia of pregnancy, toxemia, toxemia of pregnancy, unhealthiness
Misc. Definitions
\Mal"a*dy\, n.; pl. {Maladies}. [F. maladie, fr. malade ill, sick, OF. also, malabde, fr. L. male habitus, i. e., ill-kept, not in good condition. See {Malice}, and {Habit}.]
1. Any disease of the human body; a distemper, disorder, or indisposition, proceeding from impaired, defective, or morbid organic functions; especially, a lingering or deep-seated disorder. The maladies of the body may prove medicines to the mind. --Buckminster.
2. A moral or mental defect or disorder. Love's a malady without a cure. --Dryden. Syn: Disorder; distemper; sickness; ailment; disease; illness. See {Disease}.