Where does “malfeasance” come from?
Malfeasance derives from Old French malfaisance, from Old French malfaire, from Latin malefacio, ultimately from Proto-Indo-European dʰeh₁- meaning to do or make.
malfeasance (English): Wrongdoing; Misconduct or wrongdoing, especially...
Definitions
- Wrongdoing; Misconduct or wrongdoing, especially...
Ancestry of “malfeasance”, step by step
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Old French | malfaisance | — |
| 2 | Latin | malefaciō | to do evil or harm |
| 3 | Latin | faciō | to do |
| 4 | Latin | -torium | nominative neuter singular of -tōrius; accusative... |
| 5 | Latin | -tōrius | ory |
| 6 | Latin | -tor | -er |
| 7 | Proto-Italic | -tōr | Forms agent nouns to verb stems |
| 8 | Proto-Indo-European | -tōr | Derives agent nouns from verbs, denoting someone... |
| 9 | Proto-Indo-European | -tor-s | — |