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Webster 1828 Edition


Mal

MAL

, or MALE, as a previx, in composition, denotes ill or veil, L. malus. [See Malady.]

Definition 2024


mál

mál

See also: Appendix:Variations of "mal"

Faroese

Noun

mál n (genitive singular máls, plural mál)

  1. language
  2. speech
  3. talk
  4. matter
  5. (law) cause
Declension
n3 Singular Plural
Indefinite Definite Indefinite Definite
Nominative mál málið mál málini
Accusative mál málið mál málini
Dative máli málinum málum málunum
Genitive máls málsins mála málanna
Derived terms

Etymology 2

From Old Norse mál, from Proto-Germanic *mēlą, whence also English meal. Ultimately from Proto-Indo-European root *meh₁- (to measure).

Noun

mál n (genitive singular máls, plural mál)

  1. measurement, size
Declension
n3 Singular Plural
Indefinite Definite Indefinite Definite
Nominative mál málið mál málini
Accusative mál málið mál málini
Dative máli málinum málum málunum
Genitive máls málsins mála málanna
Derived terms

Icelandic

Pronunciation

  • IPA(key): /mauːl/
    Rhymes: -auːl

Etymology 1

From Old Norse mál, from Proto-Germanic *maþlą.

Noun

mál n (genitive singular máls, nominative plural mál)

  1. language
  2. speech
  3. matter, affair
  4. (law) cause
  5. (informal) a big deal
Declension
Synonyms
Derived terms
Related terms

Etymology 2

From Old Norse mál, from Proto-Germanic *mēlą, whence also English meal. Ultimately from Proto-Indo-European root *meh₁- (to measure).

Noun

mál n (genitive singular máls, nominative plural mál)

  1. measurements, a size, dimensions
  2. a system of measurement
  3. the appropriate time for something
    Er ekki mál að fara?
    Isn't it time to go?
  4. a meal, mealtime
Synonyms
  • (system of measurement): mælikerfi
  • (meal): máltíð
Declension
Derived terms
  • taka mál, taka mál af
  • mál til komið
  • vera mál
  • milli mála
Related terms

Old Norse

Etymology 1

From Proto-Germanic *maþlą, whence also Old Saxon mahal, Gothic 𐌼𐌰𐌸𐌻 (maþl).

Noun

mál n

  1. language
  2. speech
  3. matter, affair
  4. (law) cause
Descendants

Etymology 2

From Proto-Germanic *mēlą (measure, time, occassion), ultimately from Proto-Indo-European root *meh₁- (to measure). Cognate with Old English mǣl, Old Frisian mēl, Old Saxon māl, Old High German māl, Gothic 𐌼𐌴𐌻 (mēl, time, hour).

Noun

mál n (genitive máls, plural mál)

  1. measurement, size
  2. time
  3. meal, mealtime
Declension
Descendants

Etymology 3

From the same Germanic source as Old Saxon māl and Gothic 𐌼𐌴𐌻 (mēl), used by Ulfilas to translate Ancient Greek γραφή (graphḗ) and γράμμα (grámma). Related to Gothic 𐌼𐌰𐌻𐌾𐌰𐌽 (maljan) (translating γράφω (gráphō, draw, write)) and German malen (to paint).

Noun

mál n

  1. a work of art inlaid in metal, especially on weapons