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malefactor

From Wiktionary, the free dictionary

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English

Alternative forms

Etymology

From Middle English malefactour, from Late Latin malefactor, from Latin malefaciō, from male (“evilly”) + factus (“made or done”), past participle of facio (“I make or do”).

Pronunciation

  • (US) enPR: măʹləfăk'tər, IPA(key): /ˈmæləˌfæktɚ/
  • Audio (US):(file)
  • Rhymes: -æktə(ɹ)

Noun

malefactor (plural malefactors)

  1. A criminal or felon.
  2. An evildoer.
    • 1886 January 5, Robert Louis Stevenson, “The Last Night”, in Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde, London: Longmans, Green, and Co., →OCLC, page 80:
      ‘Pull yourself together, Bradshaw,’ said the lawyer. ‘This suspense, I know, is telling upon all of you; but it is now our intention to make an end of it. Poole, here, and I are going to force our way into the cabinet. If all is well, my shoulders are broad enough to bear the blame. Meanwhile, lest anything should really be amiss, or any malefactor seek to escape by the back, you and the boy must go round the corner with a pair of good sticks, and take your post at the laboratory door.
    • 2013, Kazerad, Katia: Try a few more things, in: Prequel -or- Making a Cat Cry: The Adventure (webcomic), April 23 2013
      Though your unseen malefactor’s actions may give the impression of confidence… Vaermina suspects he is terrified his plan will go astray.

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