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Added 30 September 2026

malevolent

/məˈlɛvələnt/ adjective

Latin root: malevolentem Wiktionary

adjective Definition from Wiktionary (CC BY-SA). Pronunciation from Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org. More about malevolent at Wordnik → Where our words come from →

Having or displaying ill will; wishing harm on others.
Having an evil or harmful influence.

Origin

From Middle English *malevolent (suggested by Middle English malevolence), from Old French malivolent and Latin malevolentem, from male (“badly, wrongly”) + volens (“willing, wishing”), from velle (“to wish”).

From Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org (CC BY-SA)

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