malice aforethought

Questions

What does malice aforethought mean?

The criminal intent which precedes a crime, especially murder.

Where does malice aforethought come from?

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

How to pronounce malice aforethought

1. Open the pronunciation page — Open the Speakur entry for “malice aforethought”.
2. Read the phonetic spelling — Read the IPA spelling () so you know which sounds to aim for.
3. Play the audio — Click Play to hear reference audio for “malice aforethought”.
4. Repeat and practice — Say “malice aforethought” aloud, matching stress and vowels until it feels natural.