malice
malice (mal"is) , noun
[French malice, from Latin malitia, from malus bad, ill, evil, prob. orig., dirty, black; compare Greek me`las black, Sanskrit mala dirt. Compare 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.
Envy, hatred, and malice are three distinct passions of the mind.
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.
Proud tyrants who maliciously destroy
And ride o'er ruins with malignant joy.
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.
Collocations (1)
Malice aforethought or Malice prepense , malice previously and deliberately entertained.
Malice , transitive verb
To regard with extreme ill will. [Obsolete]