English edit

Etymology edit

From Italian maleficenza or Middle French maleficence or directly from Latin maleficentia.[1][2]

Pronunciation edit

  • IPA(key): /məˈlɛfɪsəns/
  • (file)

Noun edit

maleficence (countable and uncountable, plural maleficences)

  1. harmfulness or mischief.

Antonyms edit

Related terms edit

References edit

  1. ^ maleficence”, in Merriam-Webster Online Dictionary, Springfield, Mass.: Merriam-Webster, 1996–present.:Italian maleficenza, from Latin maleficentia
  2. ^ Douglas Harper (2001–2024) “maleficence”, in Online Etymology Dictionary.:from French maleficence or directly from Latin maleficentia