The Latin root word *mal* means "bad" or "evil." This root is the word origin of many English vocabulary words, including [*mal*]formed, [*mal*]treat, and [*mal*]ice. You can recall that *mal* means "bad" through [*mal*]function, or a "badly" working part, and that it means "evil" through [*mal*]ice, or intentional "evil" done to another.