malformationn.
/ˌmalfɔːˈmeɪʃn/, /ˌmalfəˈmeɪʃn/, U.S. /ˈˌmælfɔrˈmeɪʃən/, /ˈˌmælfərˈmeɪʃən/ Abnormal or defective structure or development; an instance of this; esp. a congenital abnormality of part of the body. Also figurative.
ΘΚΠ
the world > health and disease > ill health > deformity > [noun]
crookedness1398
monstruosity1402
deformity1413
misfashioning1469
misfigurec1480
counterfeiturec1500
monstrosity1616
pravity1647
monstruousness1653
malformation1769
misformation1822
dysmorphia1848
misshape1867
aplasia1885
nanity1892
1769 E. Darwin Let. 9 June in Lett. (1981) 57 The Malformation of the Spine was a necessary Evil, and prevented Consumption or Dropsy, or Death in some Shape.
1800 Med. & Physical Jrnl. 3 397 Case of extraordinary Malformation in a Foetus..by T. Pole.
1836–9 Todd's Cycl. Anat. & Physiol. II. 471/2 Congenital malformations, such as acephalous and anencephalous states.
1844 H. Stephens Bk. of Farm II. 688 Simple though the construction of this implement be, I frequently see a malformation in the placement of its tines.
1855 T. B. Macaulay Hist. Eng. III. xiii. 377 It [sc. the army] ceased to exist,..not in consequence of any great blow from without, but by a natural dissolution, the effect of internal malformation.
1896 J. T. Whittaker in T. L. Stedman 20th Cent. Pract. IV. 59 Malformations of individual organs are very rare in typical situs inversus.
1946 Nature 14 Dec. 852/1 Plant-feeders which induce in their hosts the malformations termed galls or cecidia.
1993 Time (Atlantic ed.) 4 Jan. 13/1 Although the link between folic acid and neural-tube defects has been made before, this landmark study..is the first to show that the malformation can be prevented.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, June 2000; most recently modified version published online June 2022).
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n.1769