מְלִיצָה

מְלִיצָהf. (b. h.; לוּץ) 1) speech, argument, defence; (in an evil sense) sneer, scorn. Midr. Prov. to I, 6 מ׳ זו התורהוכ׳ mlitsah (ib.) means the Law proper , ולמה נקראת שמה מ̇ל̇יצ̇ה שהיא מ̇צ̇ל̇תוכ׳ and why is it called m.? Because it saves those engaged in it from the judgment of Gehenna; למה נקראת שמה מ׳ שכל מי שמתלוצץוכ׳ why is it called mlitsah (scoff-producing)? Because whoever desires to scoff, will be amply supplied with scoffing. 2) metaphor. Cant. R. to I, 1 יש להם מקרא … משל … מ׳ they find confirmation in plain Biblical prose, in proverbs, and in metaphors.