Malefactor

  • 1malefactor — mid 15c., from L. malefactor, agent noun from pp. stem of malefacere to do evil, from male badly (see MAL (Cf. mal )) + facere to perform (see FACTITIOUS (Cf. factitious)) …

    Etymology dictionary

  • 2Malefactor — Mal e*fac tor, n. [L., fr. malefacere to do evil; male ill, evil + facere to do. See {Malice}, and {Fact}.] 1. An evil doer; one who commits a crime; one subject to public prosecution and punishment; a criminal. [1913 Webster] 2. One who does… …

    The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • 3malefactor — I noun bandit, brigand, convict, criminal, culprit, delinquent, desperado, evildoer, felon, gangster, hardened criminal, homo maleficus, homo sceleratus, hoodlum, hooligan, lawbreaker, lawless individual, mischief maker, miscreant, misdemeanant,… …

    Law dictionary

  • 4malefactor — *criminal, felon, convict, culprit, delinquent Analogous words: miscreant, scoundrel, *villain, blackguard Antonyms: benefactor: well doer …

    New Dictionary of Synonyms

  • 5malefactor — ► NOUN formal ▪ a person who commits a crime or some other wrong. ORIGIN from Latin malefacere do wrong …

    English terms dictionary

  • 6malefactor — [mal′ə fak΄tər] n. [L < pp. of malefacere < male, evil (see MAL ) + facere, to DO1] an evildoer or criminal …

    English World dictionary

  • 7malefactor — [[t]mæ̱lɪfæktə(r)[/t]] malefactors N COUNT A malefactor is someone who has done something bad or illegal. [FORMAL] ...a well known criminal lawyer who had saved many a malefactor from going to jail. Syn: wrongdoer …

    English dictionary

  • 8malefactor — noun Etymology: Middle English malefactour, from Latin malefactor, from malefacere to do evil, from male + facere to do more at do Date: 15th century 1. one who commits an offense against the law; especially felon 2. one who does ill toward… …

    New Collegiate Dictionary

  • 9malefactor — /mal euh fak teuhr/, n. 1. a person who violates the law; criminal. 2. a person who does harm or evil, esp. toward another. [1400 50; late ME malefactour < L malefactor, equiv. to malefac(ere) to act wickedly, do an evil deed (see MALE , FACT) +&#8230; …

    Universalium

  • 10malefactor — mal•e•fac•tor [[t]ˈmæl əˌfæk tər[/t]] n. 1) a person who violates the law; criminal 2) a person who does evil • Etymology: 1400–50; &LT; L malefactor=malefac(ere) to act wickedly (see male , fact) + tor tor …

    From formal English to slang