malefaction
[ mal-uh-fak-shuhn ]
/ ˌmæl əˈfæk ʃən /
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noun
an evil deed; crime; wrongdoing.
QUIZZES
QUIZ YOURSELF ON PARENTHESES AND BRACKETS APLENTY!
Set some time apart to test your bracket symbol knowledge, and see if you can keep your parentheses, squares, curlies, and angles all straight!
Question 1 of 7
Let’s start with some etymology: What are the origins of the typographical word “bracket”?
First appeared around 1750, and is related to the French word “braguette” for the name of codpiece armor.
First appeared in 1610, based on the French word “baguette” for the long loaf of bread.
First appeared in 1555, and is related to the French word “raquette” for a netted bat.
TAKE THE QUIZ TO FIND OUT Origin of malefaction
First recorded in 1375–1425 for an earlier sense; 1595–1605 for current sense; Middle English malefaccioun “impotence”; see malefactor, -ion
Words nearby malefaction
male chauvinist pig, Malecite, male cow, maledict, malediction, malefaction, malefactor, malefactress, male fern, malefic, maleficence
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2021
Example sentences from the Web for malefaction
His preferred field of malefaction is the country that is most nearly anarchical.
The Shadow On The Dial, and Other Essays|Ambrose BierceThe only doubt is that the malefaction is worth the burning.
The Church of St. Bunco|Gordon Clark