Word Study
mal-
CIDE DICTIONARY
mal-,
A prefix in composition denoting ill , or evil , F. male, adv., fr. malus, bad, ill. In some words it has the form male- , as in malediction, malevolent. See Malice. [1913 Webster]
" The form male- is chiefly used in cases where the male diction, malefactor, maleficent, etc. Where this is not the case, as in malfeasance or male-feasance, malformation or male-formation, etc., as also where the word to which it is prefixed commences with a vowel, as in maladministration, etc., the form mal is to be preferred, and is the one commonly employed."
[1913 Webster]
OXFORD DICTIONARY
mal-, comb. form 1 a bad, badly (malpractice; maltreat). b faulty, faultily (malfunction).
2 not (maladroit).
2 not (maladroit).
Etymology
F mal badly f. L male
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