malice aforethought

American  

noun

Law.

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

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malice aforethought British  

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

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Etymology

Origin of malice aforethought

First recorded in 1660–70

Example Sentences

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

But they, as of malice aforethought, made straight for the same place and entering in, began to examine certain irons which one of them laid from off his shoulder, discoursing various things thereof the while.

From The Decameron of Giovanni Boccaccio by Payne, John