malice aforethought
Americannoun
noun
-
the predetermination to do an unlawful act, esp to kill or seriously injure
-
the intent with which an unlawful killing is effected, which must be proved for the crime to constitute murder See also murder manslaughter
Etymology
Origin of malice aforethought
First recorded in 1660–70
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Everything he has done in his whole life has been with malice aforethought.
From Salon • Jun. 1, 2022
Ramos’s premeditation, or malice aforethought, is manifest also through time.
From Washington Post • Oct. 30, 2019
As Regina George, the reigning mean girl with malice aforethought, Taylor Louderman is a contender for lead actress in a musical.
From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 7, 2018
Armando Iannucci’s absurdist comedy reveals this in an extremely loose manner of speaking, with malice aforethought, straight-faced glee and formidable sharpshooting that occasionally misfires.
From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 8, 2018
Well, I did not do it of malice aforethought.
From From the Rapidan to Richmond and the Spottsylvania Campaign A Sketch in Personal Narration of the Scenes a Soldier Saw by Dame, William Meade
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
