English Explanatory Dictionary

malice

English dictionary entry

Meanings

noun
  1. Intention to harm or deprive in an illegal or immoral way. Desire to take pleasure in another's misfortune.
  2. An intention to do injury to another party, which in many jurisdictions is a distinguishing factor between the crimes of murder and manslaughter.
verb
  1. To intend to cause harm; to bear malice.

Pronunciation

măl'ĭs /ˈmælɪs/ en-us-malice.ogg

Word forms

malice malices malicing maliced

Etymology

From Middle English malice, borrowed from Old French malice, from Latin malitia (“badness, bad quality, ill-will, spite”), from malus (“bad”).

Synonyms

evil ill will wickedness envy grudge spite

Related words

malady

Derived words

actual malice constructive malice malice aforethought maliceful malice in fact malice in law maliceless malice murder malice prepense malicious mute of malice
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