Such fidelity, however, was taken in malam partem by the high Anglican authorities; they thought it insidious.

The very word (crux) was used among them as a curse, especially in the form ad (malam) crucem.

Here follows a figure of an unfortunate individual suspended "in malam crucem."

A wiseacre is "one that knows or tells truth; we commonly use it in malam partem for a fool" (Blount, Glossographia, 1674).