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Ma·lay

(mə-lā, mālā′)

1. A member of a people inhabiting the Malay Peninsula and parts of the western Malay Archipelago.

2. The Austronesian language of the Malays. Also called Bahasa Melayu.

adj.

1. Of, relating to, or characteristic of the Malays or their language.

2. Of or relating to Malaysia, the Malay Peninsula, or the Malay Archipelago.

[Obsolete Dutch Malayo, from Malay Melayu.]

Ma·layan (mə-lāən) adj. & n.

Indo-European & Semitic Roots Appendices

Thousands of entries in the dictionary include etymologies that trace their origins back to reconstructed proto-languages. You can obtain more information about these forms in our online appendices:

Indo-European Roots

Semitic Roots

The Indo-European appendix covers nearly half of the Indo-European roots that have left their mark on English words. A more complete treatment of Indo-European roots and the English words derived from them is available in our Dictionary of Indo-European Roots.

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