μάλα , comp. μᾶλλον, sup. μάλιστα: (1) positive, μάλα,
very, quite, right, modifying adjectives and other
adverbs, and sometimes placed after its word, ἦρι μάλ̓, Il. 9.360;
occasionally with substantives, μάλα χρεώ, Ι
197, Od. 18.370; also with
verbs (μάλα πολεμίζειν, ‘with
might and main’), and esp. to strengthen an assertion as a
whole, certainly, verily, Il.
3.204. μάλα admits of much
variety in translating in connection with its several
usages.—(2) comp., μᾶλλον,
more, all the more, Od.
5.284; ‘more willingly,’ ‘more
gladly,’ Il. 5.231, Od. 1.351.—(3) sup., μάλιστα, most, especially, far, by
far, with adjectives forming a superlative, Il. 6.433; and even with superlatives
themselves, Il. 2.57 f., Il. 24.334.