Ma*li"cious (?), a. [Of. malicius, F. malicieux, fr. L. malitiosus. See Malice.]

1.

Indulging or exercising malice; harboring ill will or enmity.

I grant him bloody, . . . Sudden, malicious, smacking of every sin That has a name. Shak.

2.

Proceeding from hatred or ill will; dictated by malice; as, a malicious report; malicious mischief.

3. Law

With wicked or mischievous intentions or motives; wrongful and done intentionally without just cause or excuse; as, a malicious act.

Malicious abandonment, the desertion of a wife or husband without just cause. Burrill. -- Malicious mischief Law, malicious injury to the property of another; -- an offense at common law. Wharton. -- Malicious prosecutionarrest Law, a wanton prosecution or arrest, by regular process in a civil or criminal proceeding, without probable cause. Bouvier.

Syn. -- Ill-disposed; evil-minded; mischievous; envious; malevolent; invidious; spiteful; bitter; malignant; rancorous; malign.

-- Ma*li"cious*ly, adv. -- Ma*li"cious*ness, n.

 

© Webster 1913.

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