/ ˈmælədi; NAmE / noun ( pl. -ies )
1.
( formal ) a serious problem
SYN ill :
Violent crime is only one of the maladies afflicting modern society.
2.
( old use ) an illness
••
WORD ORIGIN
Middle English : from Old French maladie , from malade sick, based on Latin male ill + habitus having (as a condition).