Malefical

Part of speech: adjective

Definitions

1. Causing harm or evil through supernatural or magical means; having a malevolent and destructive influence
2. Having the ability to cause harm or ill effects, often associated with ominous forces
3. displaying malicious intent or behavior that results in negativity

Etymology: "Malefical" is an older spelling of "malefic," and the two come from the same Latin source, "maleficus," meaning "evil-doing" or "doing harm." The Latin word was built from "malus," meaning "bad" or "evil," and "facere," meaning "to do" or "to make." Put together, the literal sense is roughly "one who does evil," which is why the English adjective carries the idea of harm wrought deliberately, especially by sorcery. The spelling "malefical" follows a common pattern in English where Latin-derived adjectives ending in "-icus" were sometimes given an extra "-al" ending, the same way "magic" and "magical" developed as parallel forms. Both spellings have long been in use, and "malefical" has the same sense as the shorter form: harmful through magical means.

Synonyms: malevolent, wicked, evil, harmful, noxious

Antonyms: beneficial, good, kind, helpful, wholesome