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Malefic: meaning, definitions and examples

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malefic

 

[ məˈlɛfɪk ]

Adjective
Context #1 | Adjective

harmful nature

The term 'malefic' refers to something that is harmful or evil in nature. It is often used in contexts related to astrology, where malefic planets are believed to bring misfortune or negative outcomes. Additionally, it can describe individuals or actions that cause harm or have malevolent intentions. The term carries a strong connotation of danger and is typically associated with dark or sinister influences.

Synonyms

evil, harmful, malevolent, noxious, wicked

Examples of usage

  • The malefic influence of the planet Mars can cause conflict.
  • Her malefic plans were aimed at sabotaging the competition.
  • The story features a malefic witch who curses the kingdom.

Translations

Translations of the word "malefic" in other languages:

🇵🇹 maléfico

🇮🇳 हानिकारक

🇩🇪 schädlich

🇮🇩 berbahaya

🇺🇦 зловмисний

🇵🇱 złośliwy

🇯🇵 悪影響のある

🇫🇷 maléfique

🇪🇸 maléfico

🇹🇷 kötü niyetli

🇰🇷 악의 있는

🇸🇦 شرير

🇨🇿 zlovolný

🇸🇰 zlovestný

🇨🇳 恶性的

🇸🇮 zlohoten

🇮🇸 illgjarn

🇰🇿 зиянды

🇬🇪 ნეგატიური

🇦🇿 zərərli

🇲🇽 maléfico

Word origin

The word 'malefic' has its origins in the Latin word 'maleficus', which combines 'male' meaning 'bad' and 'facere', meaning 'to do'. This composition reflects the word's intrinsic meaning of causing harm or evil. In historical texts, especially in the context of astrology, malefic planets were defined as those that produced adverse effects, contrasting with benefic planets associated with positive influences. The usage of 'malefic' has been present in English since the late 14th century, and it has maintained a consistent association with danger and evil over the centuries. Its application has expanded to various fields, including literature and modern psychology, often used to describe characters or situations that bear malevolent intent.

Word Frequency Rank

Ranking #36,896, this word is encountered relatively rarely in everyday English. It might appear in literary works or specialized texts but isn't essential for general communication.