English Vocabulary in 365 Days - Lesson 39

Day 39 : Mal; Male

Let's try to understand this with some examples

malefactor (noun) = a person who does wrong.
- male (mal) - Prefix = bad
- fact (facere) - Root = do
- or - Suffix = a person
malaria (noun) = a disease carried by a mosquito
- mal - Prefix = ill
- aria (aria) - Root = air

Let's have a look at some more words with mal, male prefixes, for better understanding.

malady - Sickness; disease
malapropos - inappropriate; not fitting
malevolent - Having or showing ill will, spiteful
malice - with intent of doing harm for the satisfaction of it
malpractice - in violation of professional standards especially by carelessness or improper conduct
maladroit - awkward, clumsy
maltreated - badly treated; abused
malign - to speak harmful untruths about someone
maliferous - disease bringing; productive of
malignant - to cause harm, suffering; a tumor with capability to cause death
malnutrition - to lack proper food and vitamins
malediction - a curse
malfeasance - evil conduct; especially by a public official
malleable - capable of being shaped
malapropism - humorous misuse of words
malignant - injurious; extremely evil; tending to produce death
malfunction - to fail to work correctly
malefactor - one who commits an evil deed; evildoer
malcontent - bad tempered
malefaction - an evil deed
malevolent - wishing evil to others

Home Work :

Try to guess the meanings of the following elements.

a. deceive

c. to shout

Shraboni Chakraborty

Asstt. Professor

English and Foreign Languages University,