malice \mal"ice\ (m[a^]l"[i^]s), n. [F. malice, fr. L.
         malitia,
   from malus bad, ill, evil, prob. orig., dirty,
         black; cf. Gr.
   me`las 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.
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            Envy, hatred, and malice are three distinct passions
            of the mind.                          --Ld. Holt.
     
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   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.
      [1913
         Webster]

   Malice aforethought or Malice prepense,
         malice previously
      and deliberately entertained.
    
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   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.
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                Proud tyrants who maliciously destroy
                And ride o'er ruins with malignant joy.
                                                  --Somerville.
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                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.
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