malaise

Where does the word "malaise" come from? It comes from French mal, and was adopted directly into English (1700s).

Malaise’s story begins in French: mal meant “bad ease, discomfort.” Bad, combined with aise (ease) for a general feeling of unease. It reached English by 1700s as malaise. French 'ill ease'; President Carter's 1979 'crisis of confidence' speech was nicknamed the 'malaise speech'. Today, malaise means a general feeling of discomfort, illness, or unease.

1. Stage 1 · French · medieval mal "bad ease, discomfort", bad, combined with aise (ease) for a general feeling of unease.
2. Stage 2 · English · 1700s malaise "a general feeling of discomfort or unease", French 'ill ease'; President Carter's 1979 'crisis of confidence' speech was nicknamed the 'malaise speech'.