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malice

 - 4 dictionary results

mal⋅ice

  [mal-is]
Use malice in a Sentence
–noun
1. desire to inflict injury, harm, or suffering on another, either because of a hostile impulse or out of deep-seated meanness: the malice and spite of a lifelong enemy.
2. Law. evil intent on the part of a person who commits a wrongful act injurious to others.
Origin:
1250–1300; ME < OF < L malitia. See mal-, -ice

Synonyms:
1. ill will, spite, spitefulness; animosity, enmity; malevolence; venom, hate, hatred; bitterness, rancor. See grudge.

Antonyms:
1. benevolence, goodwill.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
Cite This Source Link To malice
mal·ice   (māl'ĭs)   
n.  

  1. A desire to harm others or to see others suffer; extreme ill will or spite.

  2. Law The intent, without just cause or reason, to commit a wrongful act that will result in harm to another.


[Middle English, from Old French, from Latin malitia, from malus, bad; see mel-3 in Indo-European roots.]
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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Word Origin & History

malice 
1297, "desire to hurt another," from O.Fr. malice "ill will, spite," from L. malitia "badness, ill will, spite," from malus "bad" (see mal-). In legal use, "wrongful intent generally" (1547). Malicious (c.1225) is O.Fr. malicius "showing ill will," from L. maliciosus "full of malice," from malitia.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper
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Legal Dictionary

Main Entry: mal·ice
Pronunciation: 'ma-l&s
Function: noun
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 value of human life c : an improper or evil motive or purpose malice cannot be proved or a benign purpose can be imagined —David Kairys> d : ACTUAL MALICE 2 in this entry
actual malice
1 : malice proved by evidence to exist or have existed in one that inflicts unjustified harm on another: as a : an intent to injure or kill b : MALICE 2 called also express malice malice in fact
2 a : the knowledge that defamatory statements esp. regarding a public figure are false b : RECKLESS DISREGARD OF THE TRUTH —see also PUBLIC FIGURE New York Times Company v. Sullivan in the IMPORTANT CASES section
implied malice
: malice inferred from the nature or consequences of a harmful act done without justification or excuse; also : malice inferred from subjective awareness of duty or of the likely results of one's act called also legal malice malice in law
malice aforethought
: actual or implied malice existing in or attributed to the intention of one that injures or esp. kills without justification or excuse and usually requiring some degree of deliberation or premeditation or wanton disregard for life malice aforethought —California Penal Code>
malice in fact
: ACTUAL MALICE 1 in this entry
malice in law
: IMPLIED MALICE in this entry
2 : feelings of ill will, spite, or revenge
NOTE: Such feelings are usually not an important component of malice in legal consideration unless punitive damages or actual malice is an issue.
Merriam-Webster's Dictionary of Law, © 1996 Merriam-Webster, Inc.
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