mal-
a combining form meaning “bad,” “wrongful,” “ill,” occurring originally in loanwords from French (malapert ); on this model, used in the formation of other words (malfunction; malcontent ).
mal-
1 American
Mal.
2
American
abbreviation
-
Bible. Malachi.
-
Malayan.
Mal.
1
British
abbreviation
-
Bible Malachi
-
Malay(an)
MAL
2
British
abbreviation
mal-
3
British
combining form
Etymology
Origin of mal-
Middle English < Old French, representing mal adv. (< Latin male badly, ill) and adj. (< Latin malus bad)
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
See Examples For:
To detain Hardrada, a charge of mal- appropriation, whether of pay or of booty, was brought against him.
From Harold : the Last of the Saxon Kings — Volume 11 by Edward Bulwer Lytton, Baron Lytton
Scott Mason had made enough of a stink about the erased tapes that they could no longer hide under the cover of computer mal- functions.
From Terminal Compromise: computer terrorism: when privacy and freedom are the victims: a novel by Winn Schwartau
The Earl already began to tremble at the probable consequences of his mal- adroitness.
From History of the United Netherlands from the Death of William the Silent to the Twelve Year's Truce, 1585e-86a by John Lothrop Motley
To hope = esper‑i; pref. mal- denotes opposite. 3In every case.
From International Language Past, Present and Future: With Specimens of Esperanto and Grammar by Walter John Clark
Bréard, the Comptroller-General, for a consideration winked at these mal- practices, and from a poor man when he landed in Canada, he returned to France in affluent circumstances.
From Picturesque Quebec : a sequel to Quebec past and present by Sir J. M. (James MacPherson) Le Moine
“I don’t know. I’ve known people sent there, and I would not care to meet them again. It’s an ugly place, Mal. You stay close, you understand?”
From "Impossible Creatures" by Katherine Rundell
“This is Ratwin. She’s our navigator. Ratwin, this is Christopher and Mal. They’re our uninvited stowaways.”
From "Impossible Creatures" by Katherine Rundell
“I’ll go with Mal. I’ll go to this Senate.”
From "Impossible Creatures" by Katherine Rundell
“No. Don’t do that. Get some wood. Try to light a fire, Mal. It’s really important.”
From "The Book of Dust: La Belle Sauvage" by Philip Pullman
“We got to have a fire, Mal. We got to clean her, and we got to feed her.”
From "The Book of Dust: La Belle Sauvage" by Philip Pullman
But nothing compares to the spectacular new versions of the "Red" and the "Blue" albums made possible, in large part, to filmmaker Peter Jackson’s MAL technology.
From Salon ● Nov. 10, 2023
Because the MAL program had been phased out, Kinley was re-enrolled in the Master of Science in Management and Leadership program and all her previously completed courses transferred so she didn’t lose any credits.
From Seattle Times ● May 9, 2022
Most experts agree that MAL, the company operating the alumina plant and reservoirs, is not the only one at fault.
From New York Times ● Jun. 8, 2011
Parliament approved legislation late on Monday allowing a state takeover of MAL Zrt, whose giant alumina sludge reservoir burst last Monday, flooding villages and farmland, killing eight people and injuring more than 120.
From Reuters ● Oct. 12, 2010
Also on Monday, Prime Minister Orban told parliament that the government has begun the process of placing MAL Zrt "under state control and its assets under state closure."
From Time ● Oct. 11, 2010
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
