- malice
- c.1300, "desire to hurt another," from O.Fr. malice "ill will, spite," from L. malitia "badness, ill will, spite," from malus "bad" (see mal-). In legal use, "wrongful intent generally" (1540s). Malicious (early 13c.) is O.Fr. malicius "showing ill will," from L. maliciosus "full of malice," from malitia.