malice

malice
malice mal"ice (m[a^]l"[i^]s), n. [F. malice, fr. L. malitia, from malus bad, ill, evil, prob. orig., dirty, black; cf. Gr. me`las black, Skr. mala dirt. Cf. {Mauger}.] 1. Enmity of heart; malevolence; ill will; a spirit delighting in harm or misfortune to another; a disposition to injure another; a malignant design of evil. ``Nor set down aught in malice.'' --Shak. [1913 Webster]

Envy, hatred, and malice are three distinct passions of the mind. --Ld. Holt. [1913 Webster]

2. (Law) Any wicked or mischievous intention of the mind; a depraved inclination to mischief; an intention to vex, annoy, or injure another person, or to do a wrongful act without just cause or cause or excuse; a wanton disregard of the rights or safety of others; willfulness. [1913 Webster]

{Malice aforethought} or {Malice prepense}, malice previously and deliberately entertained. [1913 Webster]

Syn: Spite; ill will; malevolence; grudge; pique; bitterness; animosity; malignity; maliciousness; rancor; virulence.

Usage: See {Spite}. -- {Malevolence}, {Malignity}, {Malignancy}. Malice is a stronger word than malevolence, which may imply only a desire that evil may befall another, while malice desires, and perhaps intends, to bring it about. Malignity is intense and deepseated malice. It implies a natural delight in hating and wronging others. One who is malignant must be both malevolent and malicious; but a man may be malicious without being malignant. [1913 Webster]

Proud tyrants who maliciously destroy And ride o'er ruins with malignant joy. --Somerville. [1913 Webster]

in some connections, malignity seems rather more pertinently applied to a radical depravity of nature, and malignancy to indications of this depravity, in temper and conduct in particular instances. --Cogan. [1913 Webster]


The Collaborative International Dictionary of English. 2000.

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  • malice — [ malis ] n. f. • déb. XIIe; lat. malitia « méchanceté » 1 ♦ Vx ou littér. Aptitude et inclination à faire le mal, à nuire par des voies détournées. ⇒ malignité, méchanceté. « La meilleure [femme] est toujours en malice féconde » (Molière). Mod.… …   Encyclopédie Universelle

  • malice — mal·ice / ma ləs/ n 1 a: the intention or desire to cause harm (as death, bodily injury, or property damage) to another through an unlawful or wrongful act without justification or excuse b: wanton disregard for the rights of others or for the… …   Law dictionary

  • Malice — may refer to: Malice (legal term), a legal term describing the intent to harm Jerry Tuite (1967–2003), American professional wrestler also known by the ring name Malice Entertainment Malice (punk band), a UK punk rock group from Crawley,… …   Wikipedia

  • malice — Malice. s. f. Meschanceté, inclination à nuire, à mal faire. Grande malice. il a un fond de malice. cela procede d une malice noire. sa malice est descouverte. il est plein de malice. il a fait cela par malice. s il ne fait pas bien, c est belle… …   Dictionnaire de l'Académie française

  • malice — malice, ill will, malevolence, spite, despite, malignity, malignancy, spleen, grudge denote a feeling or a state of mind which leads one to desire that another or others should suffer pain or injury. Malice usually implies a deep seated and,… …   New Dictionary of Synonyms

  • Malice — Разработчик Ratloop Издатель Quantum Axcess Дата выпуска Октябрь 15, 1997 Жанр Шутер от первого лица …   Википедия

  • malice — Malice, Astutia, Dolus malus, Malitia. Malice finement pourpensée, Malitia accurata. Malice naturelle, Natiuum malum. De ma propre malice, Meapte malitia. C est plus par la malice des hommes que des femmes, Magis haec malitia pertinet ad viros,… …   Thresor de la langue françoyse

  • Malice — ist der Name: einer US amerikanischen Metalband, siehe Malice (Band) eines US amerikanischen Spielfilms, siehe Malice – Eine Intrige Diese Seite ist eine Begriffsklärung zur Unterscheidung mehrerer mit demselben Wort bezeichneter Begriffe …   Deutsch Wikipedia

  • malice — [mal′is] n. [OFr < L malitia < malus, bad: see MAL ] 1. active ill will; desire to harm another or to do mischief; spite 2. Law evil intent; state of mind shown by intention to do, or intentional doing of, something unlawful malice… …   English World dictionary

  • malice — (n.) c.1300, desire to hurt another, from O.Fr. malice ill will, spite, sinfulness, wickedness (12c.), from L. malitia badness, ill will, spite, from malus bad (see MAL (Cf. mal )). In legal use, wrongful intent generally (1540s) …   Etymology dictionary

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