n. 1. A desire to harm others or to see others suffer; extreme ill will or spite. 2. Law a. The intent to commit an unlawful act without justification or excuse. b. An improper motive for an action, such as desire to cause injury to another. [Middle English, from Old French, from Latin malitia, from malus, bad; see mel-3 in the Appendix of Indo-European roots.] |
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