premeditation

American  

[pri-med-i-tey-shuhn] / prɪˌmɛd ɪˈteɪ ʃən /

noun

1. an act or instance of premeditating.

2. Law.  sufficient forethought to impute deliberation and intent to commit the act.

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premeditation British  

/ prɪˌmɛdɪˈteɪʃən /

noun

1. law prior resolve to do some act or to commit a crime

2. the act of premeditating

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Etymology

Origin of premeditation

1400–50; late Middle English < Latin praemeditātiōn- (stem of praemeditātiō ) a considering beforehand. See premeditate, -ion

Example Sentences

David Elias, KC, defending, said the punch was "mistaken" in that it was "a reaction to an item thrown by somebody else" and "lacked premeditation".

From BBC

Interviews with several other members of the far-right organization found a similar lack of premeditation.

From New York Times

The distinction is the bill doesn’t require the state to prove the traditional elements of murder, which include premeditation or malice.

From Washington Times

“She did so with deliberate premeditation, extreme atrocity and cruelty.”

From Seattle Times

Bass gives dimension to the usual portrayal of a teenager, transforming mere petulance into a chilling premeditation.

From Salon