Malice \Mal"ice\, n. [F. malice, fr. L. malitia, from malus bad,
ill, evil, prob. orig., dirty, black; cf. Gr. ? 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.
Envy, hatred, and malice are three distinct passions
of the mind. --Ld. Holt.
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.
Malice aforethought or prepense, malice previously and
deliberately entertained.
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.
Proud tyrants who maliciously destroy And ride
o'er ruins with malignant joy. --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.
Source: Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)
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