GNU Collaborative International Dictionary of English

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Found 2 definitions

1.       
   malice , n. [F. malice, fr. L. malitia, from malus bad, ill, evil, prob. orig., dirty, black; cf. Gr. μέλας black, Skr. mala dirt.  Cf. Mauger.]
   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.
   
   1913 Webster
   Envy, hatred, and malice are three distinct passions of the mind.
   Ld. Holt.
   
   1913 Webster
   (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.
   1913 Webster
   Malice aforethought or Malice prepense, malice previously and deliberately entertained.
   1913 Webster
   Syn. -- Spite; ill will; malevolence; grudge; pique; bitterness; animosity; malignity; maliciousness; rancor; virulence.  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.
   1913 Webster
   Proud tyrants who maliciously destroy
   And ride o'er ruins with malignant joy.
   Somerville.
   
   1913 Webster
   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.
   
   1913 Webster
   
         
       

2.       
   Malice, v. t. To regard with extreme ill will. [Obs.]
   1913 Webster