Early Quenya
mala-
verb. to be able to (used of capacity, ability)
mala-
verb. to hurt, pain
mal-
verb. to crush, squeeze
Beware, older languages below! The languages below were invented during Tolkien's earlier period and should be used with caution. Remember to never, ever mix words from different languages!
The verb ᴱQ. mal- “to crush” and mala- “crush, squeeze” appeared in the Qenya Lexicon of the 1910s based on the early root ᴱ√MALA (QL/58, 63). Tolkien also had a distinct but related verb ᴱQ. mala- “hurt, pain” from a related root ᴱ√MBALA (QL/58, 63).
Neo-Quenya: In The Etymologies of the 1930s, Tolkien had a root ᴹ√MBAL which was the basis for the word ᴹQ. malle “street”, which in the 1910s was derived from ᴱ√MALA “crush”. On this foundation, I would retain ᴺQ. mal- “to crush, squeeze”. For purposes of Neo-Quenya, I would further assume that this verb can also mean “to hurt, pain (cause pain to)” as an extended meaning, usable metaphorically for both physical and emotional hurt; Helge Fauskanger used mal- for “hurt” in his NQNT (NQNT).