mal|ice

mal|ice «MAL ihs», noun.

1. a wish to hurt or make suffer; active ill will; spite: »

Lincoln asked the people of the North to act “with malice toward none, with charity for all.” I never bore malice to a brave enemy for having done me an injury (Scott).

SYNONYM(S): spitefulness, grudge, rancor. See syn. under spite. (Cf. ↑spite)

2. Law. intent to commit an act which will result in harm to another person without justification.

╂[< Old French malice, learned borrowing from Latin malitia < malus evil]