Malady

Part of speech: noun

Pronunciation: /ˈmæl.ə.di/

Definitions

1. A disease, illness, or medical condition that affects the body or mind
2. A physical or mental condition that disrupts well-being or causes distress
3. An ailment or disorder that leads to a deterioration of health or functioning

Etymology: The Latin phrase behind "malady" was "male habitus," meaning "ill-kept" or "not in good condition," a description of a body rather than a named disease. Habitus, from the verb "habere" (to have, to hold), referred to a state or condition of the body, so the phrase literally described someone whose physical condition was poorly maintained. Over time, "male habitus" was shortened in Late Latin to "malaptus" and then "malatus" (sickness, illness), which Old French turned into "malade" (ill, sick). The Old French noun "maladie," meaning sickness or disease, carried the word into Middle English as "maladie," and the modern English spelling settled later. The same "mal-" that appears here also turns up in "malice" and "malign," both from Latin "malus" (bad), which shows that the prefix is shared, not a coincidence. The "habit" in the source is the same root, so the word's structure is a bad condition of the body, built from two common Latin parts.

Synonyms: disease, illness, ailment, disorder, condition

Antonyms: health, wellness, fitness, wholeness, soundness