Definify.com
Webster 1913 Edition
Mal-
Mal-
(măl-)
. A prefix in composition denoting
ill
, or evil
, F. male
, adv., fr. malus
, bad, ill. In some words it has the form male-
, as in male
diction, male
volent. See Malice
. ☞ The form male- is chiefly used in cases where the e, either alone or with other letters, is pronounced as a separate syllable, as in malediction, malefactor, maleficent, etc. Where this is not the case, as in malfeasance or male-feasance, malformation or male-formation, etc., as also where the word to which it is prefixed commences with a vowel, as in maladministration, etc., the form
mal
is to be preferred, and is the one commonly employed.