Final answer:
The word 'dismal' can be traced back to the medieval Latin term 'dies mali', which translates to 'evil days'. The words are closely related because 'dismal' is now used to describe something gloomy or depressing.
Step-by-step explanation:
The word that best completes the given sentence is b. dismal. The word dismal can be traced to the medieval Latin phrase dies mali, meaning evil days. This word today is used to describe something gloomy or depressing, which aligns well with its historical Latin roots. Unlike the other options, the words malicious, discord, and malevolent don't directly link to the phrase dies mali, making option b the best choice.
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