malice aforethought

noun

, Law.

a predetermination to commit an unlawful act without just cause or provocation (applied chiefly to cases of first-degree murder).

malice aforethought

the predetermination to do an unlawful act, esp to kill or seriously injure
See manslaughter, murder
the intent with which an unlawful killing is effected, which must be proved for the crime to constitute murder See also murder manslaughter

First recorded in 1660–70

To be frank, I seriously doubt if Madoff set out, with malice aforethought, to defraud anyone.

With malice aforethought, we made a raid to the extent of three pennies worth.

But let it be recorded to the old town's credit, the evil was propagated without malice aforethought.

But even granting that, one could scarcely help suspecting malice aforethought in the curious provision.

He claims that Bud pitched him into that dishpan uh dough with malice aforethought.

It is not waiting for them to drag down the banner to the dust; it is making haste to trail it for them with malice aforethought.

April 19, 2024tortuous

[tawr-choo-uhs ]

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