the quality, state, or feeling of being malevolent; ill will; malice; hatred.
Origin: 1425–75; < Latinmalevolentia (see malevolent, -ence); replacing late Middle Englishmalivolence < Middle French < Latin as above
Synonyms maliciousness, spite, spitefulness, grudge, venom. Malevolence, malignity, rancor suggest the wishing of harm to others. Malevolence is a smoldering ill will: a vindictive malevolence in her expression.Malignity is a deep-seated and virulent disposition to injure; it is more dangerous than malevolence because it is not only more completely concealed but it often instigates harmful acts: The malignity of his nature was shocking.Rancor is a lasting, corrosive, and implacable hatred and resentment.
late 15c., from O.Fr. malevolence, from L. malevolentia, from malevolentem (nom. malevolens) "malevolent," from male "badly" + volentem (nom. volens), prp. of velle "to wish" (see will (v.)).