malice aforethought

noun

The criminal intent which precedes a crime, especially murder.

Similar
premeditationmalice prepensemens rea
OriginAnglo-Norman malice prepensé →
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Meanings

nounmalice aforethought (uncountable)
  1. uncountablelawThe criminal intent which precedes a crime, especially murder.

    Synonyms: premeditation, malice prepense

Synonyms & antonyms

nounThe criminal intent which precedes a crime, especially murder.

Similar
premeditationmalice prepense

More synonyms by meaning

noun(law) criminal intent; the thoughts and intentions behind a wrongful act (including knowledge that the act is illegal); often at issue in murder trials

Similar
mens rea
Broader
planningpreparationprovision
Also see
mens reapremeditation

Synonym sets from Open English WordNet, CC BY 4.0.

Origin

  1. Anglo-Normanmalice prepensé
  2. Englishmalice aforethought

Calque of Anglo-Norman malice prepensé (literally “forethought malice”).

More words from Anglo-Norman

Full word history & related roots →
Cite this entry
APA

malice aforethought. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 4, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/malice%20aforethought

MLA

“malice aforethought.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/malice%20aforethought. Accessed November 4, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “malice aforethought,” accessed November 4, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/malice%20aforethought.

Source: malice aforethought on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.