malice aforethought

noun

Law.

1. a predetermination to commit an unlawful act without just cause or provocation (applied chiefly to cases of first-degree murder).

malice aforethought

noun

1. the predetermination to do an unlawful act, esp to kill or seriously injure

2. the intent with which an unlawful killing is effected, which must be proved for the crime to constitute murder See also murder manslaughter

Word History and Origins

Origin of malice aforethought¹

First recorded in 1660–70