Dictionary
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). Cf.
male-. Mal.
1. Malachi.
2. Malayan.
Random House Unabridged Dictionary, Copyright © 1997, by Random House, Inc., on Infoplease.