malus

From Proto-Italic *malos, related to Oscan mallom and mallud (“bad”), probably from Proto-Indo-European *(s)mel- (“false, bad”), cognate with Lithuanian melas (“lie”) and the first element of Ancient Greek βλάσφημος (blásphēmos, “jinx”). Alternatively, from Proto-Indo-European *(s)mal- (“small”), it would then be a cognate with English small.

Originally associated with Ancient Greek μέλας (mélas, “black, dark”), but support for this is waning. Also compare Avestan 𐬨𐬀𐬌𐬭𐬌𐬌𐬀 (maⁱriia, “treacherous”) and Sanskrit मल (mala, “dirtiness, impurity”)

Alternative forms

malos (Early Latin)

Pronunciation

(Classical Latin) IPA^(key): /ˈma.lus/, [ˈmäɫ̪ʊs̠]
(modern Italianate Ecclesiastical) IPA^(key): /ˈma.lus/, [ˈmäːlus]

Adjective

malus (feminine mala, neuter malum, comparative pēior, superlative pessimus, adverb male); first/second-declension adjective

unpleasant, distressing, painful, nasty, bad
Abī in malam crucem, malum cruciātum. ― Go away to a bad cross, bad crucifixion. [A saying referring back to a Roman army post-defeat mass fratricide/suicide act (to avoid a worse fate from the enemy victors; i.e., our own Roman engineered torture is a better fate/prospect) cited from Caesar's Gallic War Commentaries]

Mala rēs. ― Trouble, bad business.

Mala aetās. ― Old age.
unpleasant to the senses, sight, smell, taste, touch
Mala faciēs. ― Ugly face.
bad, evil, wicked, mischievous
Malus et nēquam homō. ― An evil and wicked man.

Dolus malus. ― Deliberate deception, malice afterthought (legal language).
destructive, hurtful, noxious, evil
Consuētūdō mala. ― A bad habit.

Mala vōta, carmina susurrāre. ― To whisper evil spells, incantations.
unkind, hostile, abusive
Mala verba. ― Abuses.
associated with bad luck, unlucky, unfavourable, unfortunate, adverse, evil
Mala tempestās. ― Bad, unfavourable, unsuitable weather.

Malam fāmam ferre. ― To bring bad reputation, ill fame.

Malīs avibus. ― Under evil auspices. (literally, “Under bad birds.”)

Reliquiae malae pugnae. ― Remnants of an unsuccessful, adverse battle.
poor in condition or capacity, inept
Mala merx/mers. ― A bad lot (of persons).

Malā mente esse. ― To be out of one's mind.

Pessimus poēta. ― The worst poet.

Declension

First/second-declension adjective.

Case / Gender	Masculine	Feminine	Neuter	Masculine	Feminine	Neuter
Number	Singular			Plural
Nominative	malus	mala	malum	malī	malae	mala
Genitive	malī	malae	malī	malōrum	malārum	malōrum
Dative	malō	malae	malō	malīs
Accusative	malum	malam	malum	malōs	malās	mala
Ablative	malō	malā	malō	malīs
Vocative	male	mala	malum	malī	malae	mala

Synonyms

(wicked): improbus, nēquam, malignus, scelerātus, perversus, prāvus, vitiōsus, malus, scelestus, facinorōsus
(hurtful): nocīvus

Antonyms

bonus, probus, rēctus, integer, castus

Derived terms