mal-
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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).
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Which of the following nouns has an irregular plural form?
Compare male-.
Origin of mal-
Middle English <Old French, representing mal adv. (<Latin male badly, ill) and adj. (<Latin malus bad)
Other definitions for mal- (2 of 2)
Mal.
abbreviation
Bible. Malachi.
Malayan.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2022
How to use mal- in a sentence
British Dictionary definitions for mal- (1 of 3)
MAL
abbreviation for
Malaysia (international car registration)
British Dictionary definitions for mal- (2 of 3)
mal-
combining form
bad or badly; wrong or wrongly; imperfect or defectivemaladjusted; malfunction
Word Origin for mal-
Old French, from Latin malus bad, male badly
British Dictionary definitions for mal- (3 of 3)
Mal.
abbreviation for
Bible Malachi
Malay(an)
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
© William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
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Medical definitions for mal- (1 of 2)
mal
[ măl, mäl ]
n.
A disease or disorder.
Medical definitions for mal- (2 of 2)
mal-
pref.
Bad; badly:malpractice.
Abnormal; abnormally:malformation.
The American Heritage® Stedman's Medical Dictionary
Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company.