Question:medium

Choose the correct meaning of the foreign language word "malus".

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Latin roots like \emph{mal-} often signal something negative—recognizing such prefixes can help in guessing meanings of unfamiliar words.
Updated On: Jul 15, 2026
  • mass
  • harmless
  • harmful
  • comforting
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The Correct Option is C

Approach Solution - 1

Step 1: Understanding the Concept:
This question tests recognition of a common Latin root that shows up in many English words. Spotting the root quickly is the fastest way to translate an unfamiliar Latin word in a vocabulary question.

Step 2: Key Formula or Approach:
Look at English words that already contain the same root as the given word, since their shared meaning usually points to the original Latin sense. The root "mal-" shows up in "malfunction" (to function badly), "malpractice" (bad professional conduct), and "malady" (a bad state of health).

Step 3: Detailed Explanation:
All of these "mal-" words describe something going wrong or being defective, so the root itself carries a "bad" or "damaging" sense. "Malus" in Latin literally means "bad" or "evil." Among the choices, "mass" is unrelated to the root, "harmless" and "comforting" both describe positive or neutral qualities, which contradicts a root that means "bad." Only "harmful" matches the negative sense the root actually carries.

Step 4: Final Answer:
"Malus" means harmful, so option C is correct.
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Approach Solution -2

English pairs many Latin roots as opposites, "bene-" (good, as in "benevolent" or "benefit") against "mal-" (bad, as in "malicious" or "malignant"). Since "malus" carries the "mal-" root, its meaning should sit on the opposite end of the scale from anything a "bene-" word describes.

  1. Mass: This word is not on the good-bad scale at all, it describes quantity, so it cannot be where a "mal-" word lands.
  2. Harmless: This sits close to the "bene-" side of the scale, describing safety, the opposite end from where "mal-" words belong.
  3. Harmful: This sits squarely on the "mal-" side of the scale, describing damage or danger, matching words like "malicious" and "malignant".
  4. Comforting: Like "harmless", this belongs to the "bene-" side of the scale, describing something pleasant, the wrong end for a "mal-" word.

Placed on the good-bad scale that "bene-" and "mal-" roots divide between them, only one option lands on the same negative end as "malus".

Therefore, the correct answer is harmful.

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