/mal"euh dee/ , n. , pl. maladies .
1. any disorder or disease of the body, esp. one that is chronic or deepseated.
2. any undesirable or disordered condition: social maladies; a malady of the spirit.
[ 1200-50; ME maladie malade sick ( male habitus lit., ill-conditioned; see MAL-, HABIT) + -ie -Y 3 ]
Syn. 1. illness, sickness, affliction, complaint, ailment, indisposition.