I. combining form
Etymology: Middle English, from Middle French mal, adjective, bad & mal, adverb, badly; Middle French mal bad, from Old French, from Latin malus; Middle French mal badly, from Old French, from Latin male, from malus bad — more at small
1.
a. : bad : evil
mal practice
b. : badly : evilly
mal odorous
2.
a. : irregular : abnormal
mal formation
b. : irregularly : abnormally
mal formed
3.
a. : poor : inadequate
mal adjustment
b. : poorly : inadequately
mal nourished
II. combining form
or malo-
Etymology: International Scientific Vocabulary, from malic (in malic acid )
: malic acid
mal amide
malo nitrile