Malice

n. [Fr. malice, Pr. malicia, malissa, maleza, Sp. & Pg. malicia, It. malizia, Lat. malitia, from malus, bad, ill, evil.]

1Sense 1. Enmity of heart; malevolence; ill-will; a spirit desiring harm or misfortune to another; a disposition to injure others; unprovoked malignity or spite. “Nor set down aught in malice.” Shak.

Envy, hatred, and malice are three distinct passions of the mind. Ld. Holt.

2Sense 2. (Law.) Any wicked or mischievous intention of the mind; a depraved inclination to mischief; intention to do an act which is wrongful, without just cause or excuse; a wanton disregard of the rights or safety of others; willfulness. Story.

Malice aforethought, or prepense, malice previously and deliberately entertained.

Synonyms—Spite; ill-will; malevolence; grudge; pique; bitterness; malignity; maliciousness; rancor. See SPITE.—MALICE, MALEVOLENCE, MALIGNITY, MALIGNANCY. There is the same difference between malevolence and malice as between wishes and intentions. A malevolent man desires to see others unhappy, and rejoices when they are so; a malicious man is habitually bent upon injuring others without cause. Malignity goes further; it is not only bent on evil, but loves it for its own sake. One who is malignant must be both malevolent and malicious; but a man may be malicious without being malignant.

Proud tyrants who maliciously destroy, And ride o’er ruins with malignant joy, Humbled in dust, soon to their cost shall know Heaven our avenger, and mankind their foe. Somerville.

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.

v. t. To regard with extreme ill-will. [Obs.]