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malevolent

 - 2 dictionary results

ma⋅lev⋅o⋅lent

[muh-lev-uh-luhnt]
–adjective
1. wishing evil or harm to another or others; showing ill will; ill-disposed; malicious: His failures made him malevolent toward those who were successful.
2. evil; harmful; injurious: a malevolent inclination to destroy the happiness of others.
3. Astrology. evil or malign in influence.

Origin:
1500–10; < L malevolent- (s. of malevolēns) ill-disposed, spiteful, equiv. to male- male- + volent- (s. of volēns), prp. of velle to want, wish for, desire (see will 1 , -ent )


ma⋅lev⋅o⋅lent⋅ly, adverb
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
Cite This Source Link To malevolent
ma·lev·o·lent   (mə-lěv'ə-lənt)   
adj.  
  1. Having or exhibiting ill will; wishing harm to others; malicious.

  2. Having an evil or harmful influence: malevolent stars.


[Latin malevolēns, malevolent-; see malevolence.]
ma·lev'o·lent·ly adv.
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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