The prefix mal- or male- conveys which meaning?

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The meaning carried by mal- or male- is a negative quality—bad, wrong, or evil. You’ll see it in words like malicious (intent on harm), malignant (dangerous or evil in nature), and malnutrition (poor, defective nutrition), all signaling something not right or harmful. So this prefix isn’t about being good or just unlucky; it points to something faulty or morally negative. That’s why the best interpretation is evil, bad.