'Male-' definitions:

Definition of 'Male-'

From: GCIDE
  • Male- \Male-\ (m[a^]l- or m[a^]l[-e]-). See Mal-. [1913 Webster]

Definition of 'male-'

From: GCIDE
  • Mal- \Mal-\ (m[a^]l-). A prefix in composition denoting ill, or evil, F. male, adv., fr. malus, bad, ill. In some words it has the form male-, as in malediction, malevolent. See Malice. [1913 Webster]
  • Note: The form male- is chiefly used in cases where the e, either alone or with other letters, is pronounced as a separate syllable, as in malediction, malefactor, maleficent, etc. Where this is not the case, as in malfeasance or male-feasance, malformation or male-formation, etc., as also where the word to which it is prefixed commences with a vowel, as in maladministration, etc., the form mal is to be preferred, and is the one commonly employed. [1913 Webster]