maleficent (2009-09-26)

Part of Speech: adjective

Pronunciation: [mê-'le-fi-sint]

Definition: Evil, intensely spiteful, causing harm to others.

Usage: This is a word to use sparingly and in extreme cases: "After his crime, he maleficently planted the murder weapon in her handbag." It should be reserved for genuinely dastardly events: "Even though Spoffard loved the play by his significant other's new boyfriend, he wrote a maleficent review harshly critical of it."

Suggested Usage: This adjective is a synonym of "malefic" [mê-'le-fik]. "Maleficence" is the noun. The meaning is not quite that of "malevolent," which means "intending or wishing harm," though it, too, is often used in the sense of actually causing harm. We think the two meanings should be kept distinct. The antonym of "maleficent is "beneficent" and that of "malevolent" is "benevolent."

Etymology: Latin malefic-us from male "ill, evil" + -ficus "-making, -doing," from facere "to make, do." Also found in French maléfique, Italian malefico, Spanish maléfico. The stem "male" also appears in "malady," malevolent," "malnutrition."