What is "malicious abandonment"

Malicious \Ma*li"cious\, a. [Of. malicius, F. malicieux, fr. L. malitiosus. See Malice.]

1. Indulging or exercising malice; harboring ill will or enmity.

   I grant him bloody, . . . Sudden, malicious, smacking of every sin That has a name.
   --Shak.

2. Proceeding from hatred or ill will; dictated by malice; as, a malicious report; malicious mischief.

3. (Law) With wicked or mischievous intentions or motives; wrongful and done intentionally without just cause or excuse; as, a malicious act.

   Malicious abandonment, the desertion of a wife or husband without just cause.
   --Burrill.

   Malicious prosecution or Malicious arrest (Law), a wanton prosecution or arrest, by regular process in a civil or criminal proceeding, without probable cause.
   --Bouvier.

   Syn: Ill-disposed; evil-minded; mischievous; envious; malevolent; invidious; spiteful; bitter; malignant; rancorous; malign. [1913 Webster] -- Ma*li"cious*ly, adv. -- Ma*li"cious*ness, n.