European in Webster’s play setting, cold and evil (7)

I believe the answer is:

malefic

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'evil' is the definition.
(I know that evil can be written as malefic)

I don't understand how the rest of the clue works.

(Other definitions for malefic that I've seen before include "Causing harm" , "Baleful" , "Having an evil influence" .)

I've seen this clue in The Times.

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