Etymology tree
Proto-Indo-European *melh₂-der.
Ancient Greek μᾰλᾰκός (mălăkós)
Ancient Greek -ῐ́ᾱ (-ĭ́ā)
Ancient Greek μᾰλᾰκῐ́ᾱ (mălăkĭ́ā)bor.
Latin malacia
Derived from Ancient Greek μᾰλᾰκῐ́ᾱ (mălăkĭ́ā, “softness”), from μᾰλᾰκός (mălăkós, “soft”) + -ῐ́ᾱ (-ĭ́ā).