malison

Malison is still hanging on after being around for eight centuries, but it appears to have suffered the curse of time. Though "malison" still sees occasional use, it is no longer as common as it was in days of yore. Rather, it has been largely supplanted by its younger cousin "malediction." "Malison" and "malediction" are both descendants of the Late Latin word maledictio, itself from maledicere, meaning "to curse." "Maledicere" in turn traces back to Latin male, meaning "badly," and dicere, meaning "to speak or say."